It’d be easy to use all the baseball puns in a review of “Damn Yankees” at Arena Stage in Washington. Sure, it covers all the bases and it’s a home run, it even knocks it out of the park. But the revival of the treasured musical is an absolute ball.
Based on the book, “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant,” by Douglass Wallop, and the book, “Damn Yankees” by Wallop and George Abbott, Arena’s version is updated by Will Power and Doug Wright.
The Washington Senators are rewritten as the Baltimore Orioles. The story opens with Joe Boyd, played by Quentin Earl Darrington, and his wife, Meg, played by Bryonha Marie, in the cliched struggle between the baseball fan and his wife who feels ignored. The number, “Six Months of Every Year,” gets things started with solid performances and Darrington’s and Marie’s incredible voices.
The Orioles fan, constantly disappointed, says he’d sell his soul to the devil if the O’s could beat the New York Yankees to win the pennant.
Enter the devil as a slick salesman, Applegate, played delectably by Rob McClure.
Applegate convinces Joe to make the pact saying he’ll have his lawyers draft something. “You have lawyers?” Joe asked. “Millions and millions, with new ones arriving every day,” the devil says.
Joe leaves in the middle of the night with a poignant song, “Goodbye, Old Girl,” leaving his wife a note.
Lighting, sound and special staging techniques transform him into the young Joe, played by Jordan Donica. His voice is phenomenal and has the tenor of an old soul along with his transformed demeanor.
“Gotta Have Heart” is a rousing highlight of Act One.
After a name change to Joe Hardy, the hardier Joe becomes a powerful hitter for the O’s and leads them on a winning streak. Success follows; games are won. The wrinkle in the deal with the devil — Joe’s insistence on an escape clause — looks more appealing as Joe misses Meg and realized he’s taken her for granted.
But here’s comes Lola, sent by Applegate to tempt Joe, and Lola always gets what Lola wants. Ana Villafañe appears via a rising platform and steals the show with her voice and dance moves, though often a bit scantily clad. She is a force, but instead of tempting Joe to keep his pact she begins to see the good person that he is, and this changes her.
The Orioles mascot kicks off Act Two getting the audience charged with “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
Staging in the Fichandler Stage works well with the action, from the silhouetted players at each of the four bases at the start to the four entry/exit points, and the circular platforms for dramatic character exits and entrances in the stage.
The music is flawless, though occasionally it overpowers a voice. Look for little touches such as the snow in hell and the cast dancing with bats and gloves. Beware of occasional profanity, not including the name of the musical.
Interesting in the cast notes, actor Darrington says he lives and works by the truth of Philippians 3:12-14, a passage about pressing on for perfection. And Deanna Cudjoe, in the ensemble, says, “Always, Luke 1:37,” about embracing the thought that with God nothing is impossible.
“Damn Yankees” runs through Nov. 9.
