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‘Damn Yankees’ at Aurora
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THEATER REVIEW. Grade: C
There are no grand slams in Aurora Theatre’s season-opening production of “Damn Yankees,” which has its eye on the pennant but fails to score many points in the romantic-comedy ballpark.
The Faustian tale of an aging baseball aficionado who trades his wife for a Washington Senators jersey and gets a steamy romp with the leggy Lola as part of the bargain, the 1955 Broadway musical is a sweetly reassuring anthem on the power of love to withstand the siren song of fame, fortune, desire and lust.
But the story of Joe Boyd and his overlooked wife, Meg, has aged about as gracefully as a well-worn Little League baseball.
Though the songs of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross have their winning moments, George Abbott and Douglass Wallop’s book feels stitched together from the remnants of vaudeville. If its old-school schtick and creaky plot machinations are to satisfy the expectations of modern audiences, it requires nothing less than hard-hitting emotional investment from the company.
Alas, director Susan Reid’s production has the good-natured intentions and clumsy results of an ambitious community theater offering.
Wildly uneven and frequently wobbly, this “Damn Yankees” delivers a bland, creaky-voiced Joe Boyd (Bruce Taylor); a made-up-to-look-washed-out Meg (Jennifer Levison) and a perky comedienne miscast as the bombshell/she-devil Lola (Wendy Melkonian). Thank goodness for Justin Tanner (Joe Hardy), who sings handsomely and captures the yearning heart of an old romantic soul trapped in a young man’s body. And Spencer G. Stephens, as the exasperated Coach Van Buren, is good wiggly fun.
But you have to wonder what artistic director Anthony Rodriguez and musical director Ann-Carol Pence would think if they could actually see what’s happening onstage. (Rodriguez plays devil incarnate Fred Applegate to adequately smarmy effect, and Pence sits behind the chain-link fence of an onstage “dugout,” leading the band.)
There were some awkward, borderline embarrassing moments the night I caught the show. One actress took a tumble and landed on the floor; another nearly lost part of her costume. And because the band and the ensemble seemed intent on outblasting one another, the finale was a mess.
Also problematic: Taylor and Levison seemed to make no honest connections whatsoever. Melkonian’s requisite cutesy mannerisms were mostly obscured by her bad wig. And while Katie Arjona’s choreography brought out the energy and enthusiasm of this youthful ensemble, the overall design (sets by Bob Hoffman, costumes by Amanda Sutt) was fussier than necessary.
Aurora, which has produced a string of old-fashioned musicals including “Camelot” and “Annie Get Your Gun,” simply may not have the resources to match its enthusiasm.
“Damn Yankees,” at least, is a no-hitter.
THE 411: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. 2:30 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Through Sept. 7. $16-$30. Aurora Theatre, 128 Pike St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-6222, auroratheatre.com
Bottom line: Strikes out.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Theater
Comments
By Margaret Davis
August 15, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
I have to disagree with this review. The fact that Mr. Brock thinks “Damn Yankees” is “aged” is not really a valid criticism. Mozart’s “Symphony No. 29 in A Major” is “aged”, but millions listen and love it. I thought this was a top notch production. The very creative scenery and stage managment. The lighting and special effects were near perfect. The dancing was fun and exciting… giving “olds broads” like me some fun in the locker room scenes. The story of tenderness and yearning is timeless. Anthony Rodriquez was the devil incarnate. The whole cast poured their heart into the performance and the audience appreicated it…loved it! This is a community theatre and it was with that in mind this play was chosen in honor of the new Gwinnett Braves. We are extremely proud of the Aurora and no bad review will deter us from supporting and cheering it. Next time you come, Mr.Brock,….just relax and enjoy the fun!
By R. A. Wiggs
August 18, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
Baseball is timeless. As a child my father took me to see the Washington Senators play at creaky old Griffith Stadium, and we usually went to see them play the Yankees. The Aurora’s production design and costumes for “Damn Yankees”, especially the Senators’ uniforms, capture the era perfectly. Our party of five, one of whom is only 13, thoroughly enjoyed the production, and judging from the standing ovation from the entire audience, everyone else did as well. No, it wasn’t perfect, but the ensemble cast, especially Justin Tanner and Tony Rodriguez, and the band did quite well. Susan Reid’s direction was far more professional than Brock’s offhand dismissal would have you believe. The Aurora is a treasure.
By Linda Morrow
August 19, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
I don’t know where this critic was coming from or what show he actually saw. My husband and I saw Damn Yankees and were thoroughly entertained. We thought Lola was one of the best characters and Anthony Rodriquez was great as his character. Just goes to show you that you can’t depend on the reviews done by professional critics. Maybe he ate something bad for dinner before the show! Linda Morrow
By R. M. Page
August 19, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Eleven of us in our theater group attended the matinee performance on Saturday, August 16, and thoroughly enjoyed the play. At dinner afterwards, everyone commented about the wonderful performance of different characters, their beautiful singing voices and how delightful the play was. Someone in the group mentioned the “bad review” the play had gotten in the AJC and we were surprised since our experience had been so positive. We applaud not only “Damn Yankees” but the Aurora Theater as well!
By Jim Towhey
August 19, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
I saw the show this weekend and thought it was very well presented. Anthony Rodriguez was worth th price of admission. The cast seemed very lively and enthusiastic showing a lot of energy. My only low spot was the casting of Lola an Joe Hardy. I think they could have done better.
By brenda perdue
August 19, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
My husband and I joked that if the critic hated a show, it was bound to be enjoyed by the audience. We appreciate singing and high energy dancing. We especially enjoyed Mr. Rodriguez as the devil. The Aurora is first rate entertainment for our community.
By Vynnie Meli
August 19, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
I thoroughly enjoyed Damn Yankees last weekend at the Aurora, as did everyone in the audience. Two strangers reached across me to high five each other during act two when - well I won’t give anything away. The cast is excellent. It is full of high energy song and dance and very funny, yet touching as well. I drove home humming a song that I still can’t get out of my head (“Goodbye, Old Girl”) and wondering who in today’s headlines or celebrity magazines might possibly have sold their soul to Mr. Rodriguez. That explains a lot. At least, that explains reality TV.
By Jim Herman
August 19, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Evidently Wendell Brock did not see the same production of “Damn Yankees” that I did! A night at the theatre is not about a wig not fitting properly or seeing a character not as you would like to see them; rather it is about entertainment and the Aurora Theatre production of “Damn Yankees” from the staff reception, volunteers, atmosphere and lively singing and dancing—not to mention the smooth scene changes—were more than a “…production has the good-natured intentions and clumsy results of an ambitious community theater offering…” It was filled with warmth; capturing a fleeting youth; overcoming and reclaiming a sense of helplessness, and most of all just pure entertainment!
By Grace Whitmore
August 30, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
You know what the problem with a critic is? It’s just one person’s opinion. Before you decide to go along with Mr. Brock’s review, why not read the 9 (including mine) reviews. My husband and I loved this production. We were entertained, laughed out loud, rose to our feet for a standing ovation at the end and came away feeling like we made a great choice on where to spend a Sunday afternoon. Damn Yankees is pure fun, morally challenging (what would you do?) with a bit of sentimentality thrown in for good measure. Anthony Rodriguez, Ann-Carol Pence, the cast and volunteers gave it their all to assure theater lovers a wonderful experience. We are season ticket holders, have been for several years, and can’t wait for the rest of the season. In a world full of war, politics, high gas prices and unemployment, why not escape back to a simpler time and just relax, let yourself be entertained and smile for awhile. Go see Damn Yankees and judge for yourself. Mr. Brock….you’re out!!!!!!!!!!!!!