Cabaret Scenes Theatre Review

"Those damn Yankees, if we could only beat 'em."

City Center's revival of Damn Yankees offers an answer. This feel-good musical fantasy about baseball in the Eisenhower era claims "(You've Gotta Have) Heart." Heart was just part of what the Washington Senators needed to stop the dreaded New York Yankees who were winning every World Series. Damn Yankees is not a perfect musical, but it fits the American spirit with humor and heart, and audiences loved it back in the '50s.

When Damn Yankees won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1956, acclaim went to Richard Adler and Jerry Ross's spirited score, Bob Fosse's choreography, and the delicious dancing of Gwen Verdon. Except for Verdon, much remains today in City Center's revival in the "Encores! Summer Stars" series. With Fosse's original choreography reproduced by Mary MacLeod, and librettists George Abbott and Douglass Wallop's Eisenhower-era nostalgia, John Rando directs a crackling cast with Sean Hayes (TV's Will and Grace), Jane Krakowski (TV's 30 Rock), Cheyenne Jackson who is taking a one-month leave from Xanadu, and the always commendable Randy Graff.

At the top of the show, Joe Boyd (P.J. Benjamin) is a middle-aged lifelong Washington Senators fan married to long-suffering baseball widow, Meg (Randy Graff). Discouraged by his team's losses, Joe groans, "I'd sell my soul for one long ball hitter." Enter the devilishly dapper Mr. Applegate (Sean Hayes) with an offer. For his soul, Mr. Applegate will give Joe renewed youth and a chance to lead the Washington Senators to American League pennant victory against the Yankees. It is an offer Joe cannot refuse, even though he must leave his wife. He sings a touching ballad to her, "Goodbye Old Girl," and exit Joe Boyd — enter hunky, 22-year-old Joe Hardy (Cheyenne Jackson).

The Senators begin winning games, but by mid-season, Joe misses his wife. He is on the verge of returning home when a desperate Mr. Applegate calls up top reinforcement, Lola, (Jane Krakowski), but even uncoiling her sinuous wit in "Whatever Lola Wants," Lola fails to snag Joe. It takes a series of magical turns of events to finally wrap up this Faustian fluff.

Sean Hayes makes an authoritative New York theatre debut with stage presence, mischievous comic timing, a credible singing voice, and impressive classical piano chops. His big number, "Those Were the Good Old Days," is an audience-pleaser.

Cheyenne Jackson plays Joe Hardy with eager naiveté and Randy Graff is engaging as the underappreciated wife with an edge of wit. They share two tender highlights with, "A Man Doesn't Know" and "Near to You."

Jane Krakowski, who slithered down a cord in Nine, makes a winsome Lola with vixen spice and a soft gooeyness. Paul Hundley and William Ivey Long gave her a Marilyn Monroe tousled blonde do and slinky dresses, possibly to discourage comparison with the gamine Gwen Verdon. While Krakowski tempts with "A Little Brains, A Little Talent," her weakness is that intricate Fosse made-for-Gwen choreography, which comes across more through personality than technique. Movin' Out's standout dancer, John Selya, moves in to out dance her in the novelty mambo, "Who's Got the Pain?" More convincing is Joe and Lola's rueful duet, "Two Lost Souls," leading to Damn Yankees' version of "Hernando's Hideaway" from Adler and Ross's earlier The Pajama Game.

The supporting cast includes Megan Lawrence as Gloria Thorpe, Relentless Gal Reporter. Veanne Cox and Kathy Fitzgerald are delightful busybodies. Michael Mulheren plays the gruff heart-of-gold coach who leads three team players, Jimmy Smagula, Robert Creighton and Jimmy Ray Bennett in the sing-along, "Heart." The baseball team is on the mark in their exuberant hoedown, "Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo."

George Abbott and Douglass Wallop wrote the libretto based on Wallop's novel, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant. Rob Berman's musical direction uses Don Walker's orchestrations for a robust onstage orchestra that set designer, John Lee Beatty, positions on a platform above the action. Except for Krakowsky and Hayes' flashy garb, William Ivey Long's costumes are pure 'Fifties, with mid-calf skirts, hats and white gloves, men in ties, and hair parted on the side.

"All you really need is heart!" While some smoothing out and snipping would help the flow, Damn Yankees with "miles and miles and miles of heart," delightfully fits the summer bill.

Damn Yankees, the Encores! Summer Stars' series at City Center, and runs from July 10 – 27, 2008.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
July 12, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Damn Yankees City Center New York, NY
"Those damn Yankees, if we could only beat 'em." City Center's revival of Damn Yankees offers an answer. This feel-good musical fantasy about baseball in the Eisenhower era claims "(You've Gotta Have) Heart." Heart was just part of what the Washington Senators needed to stop the dreaded New York Yankees who were winning every World Series. Damn Yankees is not a perfect musical, but it fits the American spirit with humor and heart, and audiences loved it back in the '50s. When Damn Yankees won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1956, acclaim went to Richard Adler and Jerry Ross's spirited score, Bob Fosse's choreography, and the delicious dancing of Gwen Verdon. Except for Verdon, much remains today in City Center's revival in the "Encores! Summer Stars" series. With Fosse's original choreography reproduced by Mary MacLeod, and librettists George Abbott and Douglass Wallop's Eisenhower-era nostalgia, John Rando directs a crackling cast with Sean Hayes (TV's Will and Grace), Jane Krakowski (TV's 30 Rock), Cheyenne Jackson who is taking a one-month leave from Xanadu, and the always commendable Randy Graff. At the top of the show, Joe Boyd (P.J. Benjamin) is a middle-aged lifelong Washington Senators fan married to long-suffering baseball widow, Meg (Randy Graff). Discouraged by his team's losses, Joe groans, "I'd sell my soul for one long ball hitter." Enter the devilishly dapper Mr. Applegate (Sean Hayes) with an offer. For his soul, Mr. Applegate will give Joe renewed youth and a chance to lead the Washington Senators to American League pennant victory against the Yankees. It is an offer Joe cannot refuse, even though he must leave his wife. He sings a touching ballad to her, "Goodbye Old Girl," and exit Joe Boyd — enter hunky, 22-year-old Joe Hardy (Cheyenne Jackson). The Senators begin winning games, but by mid-season, Joe misses his wife. He is on the verge of returning home when a desperate Mr. Applegate calls up top reinforcement, Lola, (Jane Krakowski), but even uncoiling her sinuous wit in "Whatever Lola Wants," Lola fails to snag Joe. It takes a series of magical turns of events to finally wrap up this Faustian fluff. Sean Hayes makes an authoritative New York theatre debut with stage presence, mischievous comic timing, a credible singing voice, and impressive classical piano chops. His big number, "Those Were the Good Old Days," is an audience-pleaser. Cheyenne Jackson plays Joe Hardy with eager naiveté and Randy Graff is engaging as the underappreciated wife with an edge of wit. They share two tender highlights with, "A Man Doesn't Know" and "Near to You." Jane Krakowski, who slithered down a cord in Nine, makes a winsome Lola with vixen spice and a soft gooeyness. Paul Hundley and William Ivey Long gave her a Marilyn Monroe tousled blonde do and slinky dresses, possibly to discourage comparison with the gamine Gwen Verdon. While Krakowski tempts with "A Little Brains, A Little Talent," her weakness is that intricate Fosse made-for-Gwen choreography, which comes across more through personality than technique. Movin' Out's standout dancer, John Selya, moves in to out dance her in the novelty mambo, "Who's Got the Pain?" More convincing is Joe and Lola's rueful duet, "Two Lost Souls," leading to Damn Yankees' version of "Hernando's Hideaway" from Adler and Ross's earlier The Pajama Game. The supporting cast includes Megan Lawrence as Gloria Thorpe, Relentless Gal Reporter. Veanne Cox and Kathy Fitzgerald are delightful busybodies. Michael Mulheren plays the gruff heart-of-gold coach who leads three team players, Jimmy Smagula, Robert Creighton and Jimmy Ray Bennett in the sing-along, "Heart." The baseball team is on the mark in their exuberant hoedown, "Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo." George Abbott and Douglass Wallop wrote the libretto based on Wallop's novel, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant. Rob Berman's musical direction uses Don Walker's orchestrations for a robust onstage orchestra that set designer, John Lee Beatty, positions on a platform above the action. Except for Krakowsky and Hayes' flashy garb, William Ivey Long's costumes are pure 'Fifties, with mid-calf skirts, hats and white gloves, men in ties, and hair parted on the side. "All you really need is heart!" While some smoothing out and snipping would help the flow, Damn Yankees with "miles and miles and miles of heart," delightfully fits the summer bill. Damn Yankees, the Encores! Summer Stars' series at City Center, and runs from July 10 – 27, 2008. Elizabeth Ahlfors Cabaret Scenes July 12, 2008 www.cabaretscenes.org

Damn Yankees

City Center New York, NY

City Center
New York, NY