One of the interesting aspects of the play is the frequent mention of the numerology of baseball - so many things in threes and multiples of three, the finite quality of the number of bases, balls and strikes, even the three kids most players seem to have. So it is fitting that this is a three act play with nine players in it. And, like a real club, they are a great team and great individually. The supporting cast is a great bunch of characters, played well by each actor. Chuck DeLong as the coach of the team exudes that quiet giant quality of such a man. You can tell he is conflicted between his feelings about the personal matters of his team and his job to get wins out of them at any cost. Robbie Heacock, as the catcher, puts an interesting spin on the dimwit stereotype assigned to many a jock, as he sputters his way through a series of thoughts he can't articulate. Joe Dunn, as a utility player, does well with a character that makes mountains out of molehills to cover up his own shortcomings and prejudices. Have a character who breathes righteous indignation? Joe Dunn is your go-to actor. Gary Deleon, as the Japanese wunderkind, is quite funny as he manages to create a complete portrayal while rarely speaking a word of English. Finally, there is Aaron Androuh, who plays the best friend of Darren and is on a rival team. Mr. Androuh successfully navigates a deceptively complex role as the man who exudes manliness and moral standards to the public, but turns out to much less a friend than that public persona might indicate. It would have been very easy to overdo each of these characters or rely solely on the stereotypes each represents, but none of these actors do that, choosing wisely to give us what we expect to hook us, then reeling us in with originality.
There are four main characters, and each of the four actors portraying these men are, unequivocally, giving amazing performances that you will remember for some time to come. Ed Zarkowski, as Mason "Mars" Marzac, Darren's business manager, makes that character's transformation from dull single-minded accountant/queeny stereotype to a well-rounded, thoughtful man, easy to follow and sublimely satisfying. Often, Mr. Zarkowski is called upon to provide comic relief, even doing what amounts to a Late Night monologue at one point. He is hilarious and, as you might expect, overtly queer in his delivery. But what makes the comedy of those moments so much more is both the layer of honesty and humanity that he gives each joke, and the heartbreaking sincerity of the character's more introspective moments. The result is a refreshing take on an obvious archetype
Tony Viglione, as team smart guy and philosopher, does the lion's share of the narrating, and really comes into play in the third act as his character acts as team go-between/diplomat. At first glance, the character may seem pretty one dimensional. He is smart, so people naturally go to him for advice, and he is a leader on the field as well. But in Mr. Viglione's capable hands, his take on Kippy Sunderstrom is multi-dimensional and complex, revealing a man who is as unsure as anyone else, and who, like everyone else, is capable of making a mistake - even one big enough to destroy a friendship in the name of smoothing things over. Watching this actor's face, the hallmark of any really good actor, tells you more than any line he says.
Sean Mullin, as relief pitcher and uber-bigot Shane Mungitt, not unlike the other actors in the play, gives us exactly what we'd expect from a backwoods ignoramus with one skill (a wicked pitch). His slack-jawed expression and his infuriating twang only serve to make the nastiness which seems to fall out of his mouth all the more offensive. He makes John Rocker look like a minister. But, and this is a gigantic but, Mr. Mullin also finds the element of this character that makes one feel a certain amount of pity toward the guy. He isn't just rude and offensive; he is truly ignorant in the dictionary sense of the word. He says words like "faggot" simply as a label to identify a person, much as the rest of us would say "gay man" when referring to a homosexual. This actor makes you truly believe that he honestly does not understand the meaning of the word in society. While that doesn't excuse his behavior it certainly makes it just a bit harder to completely hate or dismiss this pitiable soul. And that is no small accomplishment.
Finally, in the central role of Darren Lemming, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh gives a superb, professional quality performance, one of great nuance and emotion. This man must be simply exhausted by the end of this performance. He exudes a deep-seeded confidence that comes perilously close to actual arrogance. Only when Darren feels it is expected, though, does this actor allow himself to be completely arrogant. That difference between confidence and arrogance is a fine line, and knowing it speaks volumes for the quality of his performance. Lemming is a complicated man, not because of his revelation, but because of a multitude of things. In short, he is a complicated man like all other men, just more in public - an important theme of the play, and one which Mr. Ebrahimzadeh has taken to heart as he shapes his character. There are a few times when he has the stage alone or separated from action elsewhere, and in those moments the actor really shines for what he does without even speaking is truly wonderful acting. His is a performance likely to be talked about for months to come, and rightly so.
The entire play, with its dramatic highs and lows and its often comedic moments, is compelling. But nothing will really prepare you for the astonishments of act three, which left this reviewer and much of the opening night audience open-mouthed and holding its breath. That act gives each of the four main actors an opportunity for tour de force performing, and none of the four disappoint.
Rumor has it that Take Me Out is selling well. Do yourself a favor as the month changes to yet another October with Baltimore out of the hunt. Get to Fells Point Corner Theatre while there are still tickets available. You'll leave feeling like you attended the World Series.
PHOTOS by Ken Stanek. TOP to BOTTOM: Sean Mullin as Shane Mungitt; Gary Deleon, Chuck DeLong, Joe Dunn and Robbie Heacock; Maboud Ebrahimzadeh as Darren Lemming and Aaron Androh as Davey Battle; Edward Zarkowski as Mason Marzac; Tony Viglione as Kippy Sunderstrom; and Maboud Ebrahimzadeh as Darren Lemming.
