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Honus and Me
A Play by Steven Dietz
Adapted from the novel by Dan Gutman
Directed by Sean Graney
Produced by Chicago Children’s Theatre
At The Goodman’s Owen Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
Chicago, IL
Call 312-443-3800, tickets $15 - $38
Tuesdays at 10:30 am
Thursdays at 7 pm
Fridays at 7 pm
Saturdays at 2 & 6 pm
Sundays at 11 am & 3 pm
Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission
Through August 26, 2007
BASEBALL MAGIC IS BACK!… AT THE GOODMAN
If current sports scandals give you the blahs and real-time trips to the ballpark leave you broke and uninspired, there’s a new diamond you should get to know – a little field of dreams where Cracker Jack is as sweet as ever and heroes play with heart, a place where baseball is…well, frankly, still magic. Sean Graney’s inspired staging of Honus and Me, the fourth production from Chicago Children’s Theatre, now playing at The Goodman’s Owen Theatre, brings the childhood thrill of baseball to life for young and old alike. It is a nostalgic and sentimental stroll through innocence, a sojourn along a path where a kid can love baseball…and theatre.
Honus and Me recounts the supernatural encounter of struggling little-leaguer Joey Stoshack with his quite real pal, legendary Pirate’s slugger Honus Wagner. Relative newcomer Tim Rock, as Joey, steals the show among a top-notch cast that includes Eric Slater as Honus Wagner and Amy J. Carle and Sean Cooper as Joey’s estranged parents. Joey’s adventure begins with his discovery of the most valuable baseball card in the world – a 1909 T-206 Honus Wagner (of course) – while cleaning the attic of a very, very, very elderly neighbor, Miss Young (who else?), played by veteran Jane Alderman. Neither the family’s struggles in life nor Joey’s struggles on the field can slow this funny, fast moving story. Director Graney’s staging shuttles the audience back and forth from present to distant past as effortlessly as Rock’s perfect timing peels open Joey’s captivating adolescent brain.
Everything about this production delights. From the moment audiences take their seats in Todd Rosenthal’s masterpiece ballpark set, they are cajoled into loving Honus and Me. Well before curtain, the players take the field to warm up, throwing round the horn and animating younger audience members as they engage them in the action with games of catch all the way to the upper decks. Hot dog vendors come round with programs; there are even some baseball card replicas going round. Not a detail is missed, and mind you, this is before the show even begins.
Once the players really take the field, it’s a mesmerizing hour-and-fifteen-minute incantation of honesty, perseverance, and integrity – with humor for all. In fact, the strongest recommendation for Steven Dietz’ script is the breadth of the humor. It plays as well for adults as it plays for kids and that includes even the most avid baseball aficionados. One precaution: the show is a bit long for very young children. On opening night there were a couple of little ones who were a bit slouchy near the end, but from nine or ten years up, they were on the edge of their seats. Honus and Me isn’t merely a children’s theatre hit…it’s an out-of-the-park home run.
Highly Recommended
Randy Hardwick
randyontheglobe@yahoo.com for comments
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2007
Mini Review by Tom Williams
Sean Graney demonstrates his genius at storytelling with engaging Honus and Me
Sean Graney’s Honus and Me is a most energetic and entertaining adult-friendly children’s show. Lovers of baseball, heart warming stories and terrific acting will enjoy seeing The Goodman’s Owen Theatre being transported into a baseball diamond. Tim Rock, in a breakout performance as the young kid, together with Eric Slater as Honus deliver a most honest and effective story amazingly cliché free. Steve Dietz’s script is smart, quite funny and plausible with a fine sense of morality. The seer energy of baseball fuels this look at the adventures of a kid who always makes the last out for his park baseball team. Tim Rock make us empathize with the kid angst of Joey. Eric Slater is effective as Honus. The ensemble adds nice work that rendered laughs. Graney’s gift for staging and fast-paced storytelling works.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Dater reviewed: July 28, 2007
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