Theatre Review: Damn Yankees
By Will Stroude
We might not know much about baseball, but boy do we know our musicals. Tony-award winning musical comedy Damn Yankees has received its London fringe premiere at the Brockley Jack Studio Theatre courtesy of Imperial Productions, and the result is a rollicking, fun-filled adaptation of an old Broadway classic.
Written and set in 1950s Washington D.C., Damn Yankees tells the tale of middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd, who leaves his comfortable marriage and armchair behind after selling his soul to Paul Tate’s slick ‘Mr Applegate’ – the Devil incarnate – in a quest to help his home team beat the New York Yankees. Transformed into young baseball ace ‘Shoeless’ Joe Hardy, he soon finds himself torn between his newfound superstardom and the life he left behind.
It’s a conceit that paves the way for boundless musical fun, and Joe finds his situation complicated after Mr Applegate sends his ‘number one home-wrecker’ Lola in to help Joe forget about his wife. The role provides some of the show’s best material in the form of seduction number ‘Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets,’ but Charlotte Donald’s natural charisma and comedy timing ensure it more than fulfils its potential.
Director Dom O’Hanlon’s exuberant young cast sweep you along from one spirited number to the next, with the highlight undoubtedly being ‘Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO,’ – a toe-tapping number that features some mightily impressive dancing. Becky East’s choreography is ambitious throughout, and despite the theatre’s relatively small size all manner of flips, splits, and twists have been packed into the production, which makes shrewd use of the limited space – there’s even a roller-skate number in there.
This is a cast who are clearly having great fun with the material, and while the production is at its best when the ensemble is bouncing off each other, there are some stand-out performances from Rachel Lea-Gray as sparky investigative reporter Gloria and Vicki Mason, who simultaneously brings the lolz and steals the show as middle-aged Joe Hardy fan-girl Doris.
Damn Yankees may often be overlooked on these shores, but this accessible production injects new life into an old classic, perfectly capturing the spirit in which it was intended. A great night’s entertainment.
Rating: 4/5