Miles and Miles of Heart

Damn Yankees

To paraphrase the pullout hit song from this charming and moving musical comedy, world famous actors we haven’t got; loads of splashy scenery, we haven’t got; dazzling special effects, we haven’t got. What’ve we got? We’ve got heart! Miles and miles ’n miles o’ heart! Because, while there’s so much to recommend in this tuneful finale of Theo Ubique’s 29th season, it’s the heart of this production—miles and miles and miles of Heart—that is the super power and the secret sauce behind this pleasurable production.

Directed with spirit and heart by Daryl D. Brooks, Black Ensemble Theater’s longtime multitalented Managing Director, playwright and production director, has staged and guided Theo’s latest hit. He’s returning to the Evanston-based professional theatre after having directed their critically acclaimed production of ASSASSINS. Mr. Brooks is joined by masterful Music Director, conductor and keyboardist Ryan Brewster, who musically directed past productions of CHESS, EVITA and THE THREEPENNY OPERA at Theo. He also leads the show’s four-member onstage band. Contributing his artistic expertise to DAMN YANKEES is Christopher Chase Carter, who returns to Theo Ubique after choreographing their production of WORKING: THE MUSICAL. Together, except for a few problems with the pacing, this team is rounding the diamond and hitting this show out of the park.

Based upon Douglass Wallop’s 1954 bestselling novel, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, prolific playwright George Abbott teamed with Douglass Wallop to adapt the book into the 1955 musical, DAMN YANKEES. Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, the composers of the Tony Award-winning musical, THE PAJAMA GAME, also composed the score for this show. DAMN YANKEES would also go on to win 7 Tony Awards in 1956. Two years later a film version of the musical proved equally popular, starring screen teen heartthrob Tab Hunter, along with Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon, both of whom had starred in the original Broadway cast. After several special concert productions, the show was revived on Broadway in 1994 and again Off-Broadway in 2017.

So what’s the story behind DAMN YANKEES? Well, consider this: if you could sell your soul, what would be so important that you’d trade an eternity in hell to make something special happen? Joe Boyd is a middle-aged, long-suffering baseball fan of the Washington Senators. So frustrated by their continual losses that after Meg, his patient and loving wife, retires for the night Joe pledges an unthinkable oath. Griping and grumbling about his baseball team’s recent defeat, Joe shakes his fist at the heavens and shouts that he’d sell his soul if his beloved Washington Senators could finally “beat those damn Yankees.” Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a handsome and debonaire gentleman appears. 

Enter the smooth-talking Mr. Applegate, a devilishly slick wheeler-dealer of a salesman. He offers Joe the chance to help his team by turning him into a new, younger baseball whiz kid named Joe Hardy. If Old Joe agrees to trade his soul for this opportunity, he’ll become the hero that the Senators need to both win their league championship and challenge the Yankees for the World Series. Joe agrees, but shrewdly insists on an escape clause to his contract. Applegate reluctantly gives in to him, saying that Joe can return to his former life if he leaves the team before their final game on September 25. If not, he’ll remain young Joe Hardy forever and his soul will spend eternity in hell.

The musical features an infectious score that includes songs that have became standards, such as “Heart,” “Whatever Lola Wants” and “Two Lost Souls,” as well as some catchy, show-stopping production numbers like “Six Months Out of Every Year,” “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO,” “The Game” and “Who’s Got the Pain?” In addition, there are some beautiful ballads, like “Goodbye, Old Girl,” “Near to You” and “A Man Doesn’t Know.” And there’s one absolutely delightful, show-stopping number for Mr. Applegate entitled “Those Were the Good Old Days.” In this witty and wonderful number the devil recounts the many deplorable disasters from history, in which he had a hand.

The cast is first-rate. Luke Nowakowski returns to the Theo Ubique stage (the Jeff Award-nominated rabble-rouser, Bobby Strong, in URINETOWN) in the leading role of young Joe Hardy. He’s fantastic, with the requisite naive quality, youthful good looks, a gorgeous, highly-trained voice and the ability to dance with the best of them. And it’s an added bonus that Mr. Nowakowski radiates charm, an athletic ability and a natural quality that makes us believe his every word and deed. He stands out with songs like “Goodbye Old Girl,” “A Man Doesn’t Know,” “Near to You” and the melancholy hit, “Two Lost Souls.” Luke is fast becoming one of Chicagoland’s most impressive musical stars. He’s appeared at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in 42 BALLOONS and LORD OF THE RINGS, as well as in Porchlight’s TITANIQUE and ANYTHING GOES and in Paramount Theatre’s FUN HOME, THE SOUND OF MUSIC and BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. He’ll soon be seen as Tony in Music Theater Works’ upcoming production of WEST SIDE STORY.

The always terrific Tommy Thurston makes his long-awaited return to Theo Ubique as the diabolical and devious Mr. Applegate. He was last seen here several years ago as Robert, the handsome photographer who charms farmer’s wife, Francesca, in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. This magnificent and versatile young actor is equally at home in both classic and contemporary musicals. He was also seen in Chicago Shakespeare’s recent LORD OF THE RINGS, as well as in JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH at Marriott, POOR PEOPLE! with Hell in a Handbag, and the Pharaoh in JOSEPH…TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at Music Theater Works. Mr. Thurston is both fiendish and frolicsome as the devious Mr. Applegate. The character’s charismatic, suave and devil-may-care as magical Mr. Mephistopheles. 

The supporting cast is a talented and versatile team of hard-hitting players, with several performers returning to Theo Ubique. Talented vocalist and character actor, Reginald Hemphill, recently enjoyed as Feldzeig in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, is wonderful as Van Buren, the manager of the ball team. He leads his players in a rousing rendition of  “Heart,”the show’s optimistic ode to spunk and stamina. Enjoyed recently in Theo’s production of URINETOWN, Alexa Madda proves a powerhouse performer once again as Gloria Thorpe, the intrepid and aggressive sports columnist who’s bent on exposing the mysterious background behind this new phenom, Joe Hardy. She leads the production number, “Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, MO.”  The always wonderful character actor Thomas M. Shea, who’ll be fondly remembered as Peachum in Theo Ubique’s THE THREEPENNY OPERA, is fantastic in two roles. He portrays older Joe Boyd, tenderly caressing the heartfelt ballad to his wife, “Goodbye Old Girl,” as well as the tender reprise of “A Man Doesn’t Know,” that brings the musical to a lovely conclusion. He also plays Mr. Welch, the gruff owner of the Washington Senators. And Jon Parker Jackson, who will be remembered from several Theo productions, including DIANA: THE MUSICAL and ASSASSINS, is comical as Rocky, one of the hapless ballplayers with the Senators. 

One of the newcomers to the Theatre is Jenny Couch. She makes her debut as Lola, Mr. Applegate’s sensuously seductive assistant. Ms. Couch captivates both Joe Hardy and the audience with her gravity defying choreographic moves and lovely alto singing voice. However, when Lola confesses her love for the young ballplayer later in the show, we don’t totally believe her sincerity. This lack of sincerity leaves a gaping hole in this production. As a singer and dancer, Jenny is topnotch, but her chemistry with other characters, especially Joe Hardy, needs more work for it to be believable. On the other hand, lovely Megan Hoyt, another newcomer to Theo Ubique, is both remarkable and totally believable as Joe’s wife, Meg Boyd. Physically reminding me of a younger Sally Field, Ms. Hoyt is not only a talented and soulful singer with a golden voice, she’s an especially polished actor. Megan creates an honest, positive chemistry with each of her costars. As Joe Boyd’s loyal and loving wife, she’s terrific; but in her scenes with young Joe Hardy, there’s a special, stirring bond between the two characters that’s both apparent and arresting. Hopefully we’ll be seeing a lot more of Megan Hoyt in the future.

Also making their impressive debuts with Theo Ubique are Madison Brunner, as a delightfully dense Doris; Shannon McEldowney as man-hungry Sister; Sophie Mae Brenner and Audrey Soberg playing various and numerous ensemble roles; Spencer Curtis, as both ballplayer, Sohovik and Eddie,  a featured dancer in “Who’s Got the Pain?”Jacob Merschel as Smokey; Brady Magruder as Henry; and Quinn Rigg as Linville.

With superb lighting, courtesy of designer Ellie Fey, and a wardrobe of whimsical and colorful period costumes and wigs, designed by Marquecia Jordan and Keith Ryan, respectively, this production is a home run hit. Ms. Jordan’s use of a black and red palette for Applegate and Lola is inspired. While Manuel Ortiz’s sparse set design is an inventive attempt to create a proscenium stage, audiences seated along the far side section may have had challenging views. Also, the use of different levels of platforming created some hazardous footing for a few of the actors. 

But for a nostalgic trip back to the more innocent days of Ozzie and Harriet and Leave It to Beaver, Director Daryl D. Brooks has staged a funny, generally fast-paced musical comedy from Broadway’s Golden Age that coincides perfectly with the opening of the Spring baseball season. With just a few missed catches and a couple of foul balls, DAMN YANKEES is an All-Star show that’s filled with talent and miles and miles of heart.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented May 22-July 5 by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in the newly named Fred Anzevino Theatre, 721 Howard Street, Evanston, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 800-595-4849 or by going to www.Theo-u.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.

Photos by Elizabeth Stenholt