Stage Door News
Stage Door News
GRAND BEND – Batter up! The bases are loaded with star players and a home run seems imminent as Broadway’s baseball-themed musical comedy, Damn Yankees takes the stage at the Huron Country Playhouse for a limited three-week run through July 12th.
Based on the Faust legend and the Douglass Wallop novel “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant,” Damn Yankees is the story of diehard baseball fan Joe Boyd, who will do anything to see his beloved Washington Senators win the pennant. When the smooth-talking Mr. Applegate offers him the chance to make his dream come true, Joe makes a deal for his soul. Transformed into rookie superstar Joe Hardy, he leads the team and the big win seems within reach. But when Joe finally realizes the trade-off between youth and experience, he must decide if the life he gave up with his beloved wife Meg is more important than youth and fame.
“This show has it all – sweet romance, laugh out loud comedy, good versus evil, and of course, baseball," says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment. “No matter what team you root for, Damn Yankees is sure to be a Grand Slam!”
The deck is stacked with an all-star cast for this much-anticipated production. Mark Cassius is wickedly entertaining as Mr. Applegate, oozing charisma at every turn. He’s got all the bases covered, singing, dancing and acting with ease all while being the perfect villain audiences love to hate. His devilish performance culminates in the gleefully malicious number “Those Were the Good Old Days,” in Act II – and it’s a scene-stealer. Cassius has appeared on stages all over the world from Toronto to Broadway and beyond, but he is perhaps best known as the former lead singer for the popular a cappella vocal group The Nylons.
With her fiery red hair and lustrous voice, Drayton Entertainment newcomer Kira Guloien puts her own stamp on the role of Lola, the good-hearted bad girl who helps Applegate in his scheme to own Joe’s soul. She’s sultry, playful and captivates the audience with her vivacity, especially during the famous song “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.”
Fresh off his stint as Lieutenant Joseph Cable in South Pacific, Liam Tobin brings his boyish good looks and considerable charm to the role of slugging sensation Joe Hardy. Tobin hits a home run with this performance – he sings like a dream and masters the poignant scenes with sensitivity well beyond his years.
James Kall is well cast as middle-aged Joe Boyd, who longs to guide his beloved team to victory over the unbeatable New York Yankees. Kall is thoroughly endearing, bringing just the right sincerity and warmth to the role.
Charlotte Moore provides the heart of the production as Meg Boyd, the spouse Joe leaves behind. She makes the most of every note in the tender ballad "A Man Doesn't Know," and her nuanced voice shines again in the heartfelt duet "Near to You" with Tobin.
Heather McGuigan sparkles as sassy sports reporter Gloria Thorpe. She’s charismatic, funny, and does a good job capturing the panache of early female sports writers who dared to demand post-game access to the locker room. Her superb voice is a standout in the athletic number “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo.” with the ballplayers.
Brian McKay delivers comic gold as Van Buren, the manager of the Senators, who leads his team in “Heart.” Rebecca Poff and Karen Wood are terrifically funny as the Miller sisters, who snoop and gossip their way through everyone's personal business and then become Joe Hardy's biggest fans. Williams Vickers is perfectly paternal as Mr. Welch, the owner of the Senators who remains protective of Joe and the boys.
The ensemble features Alex Black, Ryan Gifford, Sarah Harries, Ethan Lafleur, Sarah Matton, Chad McNamara, Nicholas Nesbitt, Gregory Pember, Conor Scully and Julius Sermonia. These talented performers are a dancing force to be reckoned with – full of energy and showmanship.
The stellar cast is in skilful hands with Director and Choreographer Michael Lichtefeld, who also helmed South Pacific to launch the 2014 Season. Lichtefeld has an enviable list of credits including several shows for Broadway, Stratford and numerous theatres across North America, and his experience and talent are put to excellent use.
Music Director Steve Thomas leads a top notch band through the fun-filled score. Set Designer Douglas Paraschuk captures the baseball milieu beautifully with complementary lighting design by Kevin Fraser and colourful costumes by designer Cathleen Edwards.
Damn Yankees is proudly sponsored by Bosman Home Front. Media Sponsors are 103.9 FM and London Citylife. The Design Sponsor is Rona. The 2014 Season Media Sponsor is CTV.
Regular performance tickets are $42 for adults; $25 for youth under 20 years of age. Groups of 20 or more pay only $34 per ticket. Discounts are available with Subscription Packages. HST applies to all ticket prices.
Winner of eleven Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Choreography, Damn Yankees is on stage at the Huron Country Playhouse through July 12th. Tickets may be purchased online at www.huroncountryplayhouse.com, at the Huron Country Playhouse Box Office or by calling (519) 238-6000 or toll free 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
Photo: Mark Cassius as Mr. Applegate and Kira Guloien as Lola. ©2014 Darlene O’Rourke.
2014-06-27
Grand Bend: "Damn Yankees" runs June 27-July 12 at the Huron Country Playhouse