[NEohioPAL]Berko review: TAKE ME OUT (Dobama)

Mon Aug 20 08:29:45 PDT 2007

Outing yourself is like forging your own signature--it's not possible. You
come out, or you are outed. And the reason Mr. Lemming came out at a press
conference is not unexplained. There is much talk about being true to one's
self all throughout the play. 

-----Original Message-----
From: neohiopal-admin at lists.fredsternfeld.com
[mailto:neohiopal-admin at lists.fredsternfeld.com] On Behalf Of Roy Berko
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 4:01 PM
To: NEOhioPerformingArts
Subject: [NEohioPAL]Berko review: TAKE ME OUT (Dobama)

Dobama hits a home run with 'TAKE ME OUT'

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

__COOL CLEVELAND.COM--

Homophobia, racism, the meaning of masculinity, and the search for identity
are at the very core of 'TAKE ME OUT,' Richard Greenberg's drama with comic
overtones, now being performed by Dobama .

'TAKE ME OUT,' which opened off-Broadway in 2003, became an instant success
and was transferred on-Broadway later that same year.  It ran for 355
performances and garnered the Tony Award for Best Play.

Professional sports is a world unto itself.  There are written and unwritten
rules, not only on how to play the game, but how to protect the "men's club"
that has been perpetuated in the world of athletics.  For example, to date,
no male major league baseball, football or basketball player has openly
declared his homosexuality while being an active participant.  The closest
was Glenn Burke, the creator of the "high five" gesture, who played with the
Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics from 1976 to 1979.  He was out to
his teammates and team owners, but not to the general public. 

In 'TAKE ME OUT,' Greenberg uses the precedence to ask the question,' "What
would happen if an active major league player did come out?"

Darren Lemming, a mixed-race star for the Empires (a Yankee-like team) is at
the top of his career.  He has a spotless reputation.  For some unexplained
reason he decides to "out" himself during a press conference. 
The result is a series of incidents which exposes how his relationships with
teammates, media and fans changes.  

While Lemming is the central character in the play, Greenberg uses another
player, Kippy Sunderstrom, as the narrator to describe the action.  As he
leads us, we watch games unfold, locker room interactions, behind the scenes
problems develop.  We see how Lemming's admission affects the team and
individual relationships.

The situation reaches its climax when Shane Mungitt, a southern, uneducated,
unworldly,  new "phoneme"
relief pitcher is asked a question at a press
conference.   Not knowing the "rules," he goes off
about "spics, gooks, niggers" and even the "faggot" he has to shower with
after the game.  In reality, his answer is not unlike that given by John
Rocker, a former Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indian's relief pitcher, who
caused a ruckus with is description of New York City in a Sports Illustrated
article in January 2000.  He said,  "Imagine having to take the 7 Train to
the ballpark, looking like you're riding through Beirut, next to some kid
with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who
just got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom
with four kids."  The result, much like that in the play, was a public
outcry and Rocker's eventual suspension. 

Dobama's production, under the wise direction of Scott Plate, is
outstanding.  The acting is consistent, the pacing is generally excellent.
The exception was the startling ending of the second act which was rushed
and did not allow the audience to truly experience the extent of the havoc
which they have just seen.  A slow fade and holding the lights out at the
end of the scene would have added to the tension.  But, considering
everything, that's a minor issue.

Michael May evoked the necessary positive personal self-confidence and
slightly below the surface vulnerability to make Lemming a real person. 

Phil Carroll was attitude-perfect.  He made it easy to understand why the
intellectual and personable Kippy was the team's leader, soul and
conscience.  

Caleb Sekeres was nothing short of astounding as Mason Marzac, a physically
slight, nebbish-like gay financial planner, who was thrust upon Lemming
after the star came out and the "big financial guns" didn't want to be
tainted by dealing with the now tarnished player.  Sekeres not only falls in
love with Lemming, but the game of baseball.  His monologue when he
exclaims, "Baseball is better than democracy--at least democracy as
practiced in this country," was a show highlight.  It's worth going just to
experience Sekeres's performance.

Fred Maurer, complete with ticks, spitting, confused look and verbal
slurring, makes Shane  Mungitt so very, very real.  It's a hard part to
develop as Mungitt must be made to be  sympathetic while being despicable.
Maureer succeeds.  Again, one of those special performances!

A combination of general poor articulation and disproportionate screaming in
a key scene, made David Lemoyne (Davey Battle) often difficult to
understand. 
 He could have shown the same emotions without the excessive theatrics and
yelling.

The rest of the cast was very proficient with each developing a consistent
characterization.  Adding to all of the usual character development issues
was the need to feel comfortable while nude in several locker and shower
scenes.  There was no apparent discomfort on the part of the audience
because the actors appeared at ease with their nudity and Plate had directed
the scenes as a natural part of the entire locker room experience.

'TAKE ME OUT' is an intimate play.  Marcus Dana's set and Jeff Lockshine's
lighting helped establish the proper mood.  Though the theatre in the square
configuration sometimes led to not being able to hear some lines, depending
on where the audience member was sitting, this was generally not a major
problem. 
Aimee Kleiuber's costumes were excellent.  The mood of each scene was well
set by sound designer Richard Ingraham's selection of the different versions
of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" as they play progressed.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: 'TAKE ME OUT' is another of those outstanding productions
that has become the hallmark of Dobama.  It is a must see for anyone
interested in baseball, social issues or just good theatre!

'TAKE ME OUT' runs through September 9 at the Factory Theatre of Cleveland
State University.  For tickets call 216-932-3396 and leave a message.
Tickets will
be held for you at the performance.   Or go on-line at
 www.ticketleap.com.  There is a small service charge.

Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through
2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found
at http://royberko.info

Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line
source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit
http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also
appear on www.coolcleveland.com

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