[NEohioPAL] Powerful, deeply touching drama 'Winning Streak' at Tri-C's eastern campus

[Peter Spellos]

The Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) Eastern Campus Theatre Arts
Department production of “The Winning Streak” by Lee Blessing, now at
the Tri-C East Studio Theatre, is a stark, powerful and deeply
touching family drama – with funny moments – about, as one of the
characters says, the harm done that cannot always be undone. The play
focuses on the efforts of 30-something Ryland Davis (Brian McNally) to
get some answers from his aging absentee father Omar Carlyle (Jeffrey
Grover) who had a one night stand with Ryland’s mother and was never
heard from again. One day Omar decides to accept Ryland to visit for a
few days, and Ryland, though prickly about this stranger who donated
his DNA, flies into town with plenty of questions. Ryland is an art
restorer, cleaning and brightening, while Omar, a former baseball
umpire, spent decades rubbing mud onto baseballs. At first, it seems
Omar is manipulating Ryland to stay by telling him he’s a lucky charm
helping his beloved Midwest baseball team win (“You gotta stick around
for the whole streak”).
Omar’s only interest appears to be his team and his only reason for
keeping Ryland around for a few weeks is to see his team keep winning.
He also claims to be dying, though Ryland isn’t sure if he can trust
him on that. But slowly, Omer reveals the information Ryland seeks.
And throughout the play, as Ryland follows a pattern of learning and
exploding with anger, it becomes apparent that the pair are two sides
of the same coin.
Grover portrays Omar as a selfish, mangy, intolerant old coot whose
only allegiance appears to be to his baseball team, while his exterior
hides a deeply scarred man who has lived through abuse and loss. Davis
plays the hurt adult child, his wounds still stinging. Yet, his Ryland
is capable of vindictive cruelty and manipulation that at first seems
beneath him.
Director Brian Zoldessy has brought two talented actors to the stage
and sagely focused on the key element of relationship.
Set Design by Marcus Dana, over the ever-present, subtle baseball
diamond in the center of the stage floor, features just a few simple
items like a bar and stools, a comfy chair and one unique prop: coin
operated binoculars. Allowing Blessing’s father and son to hash out
their differences in this intimate, stark setting lends intensity
during the search for answers.
The performances in “The Winning Streak” are of flawed, angry, deeply
emotional characters to which Grover and Davis bring a depth of raw
emotion.
“The Winning Streak” plays through March 4, Friday and Saturday at 8
p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Free parking is available in the B lot
during performances. For tickets or more information, call (216)
987-2438 or visit www.tri-c.edu/easttheatre.
There is mature language.