We've got an old barn and some costumes!
Damn Yankees is a musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. The musical is based on Wallop's novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant.
CAST LIST
Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy - David Hernandez
Meg Boyd - Samantha Olson
Mr. Applegate - Logan Breitbart
Lola - Myha'la Herrold-Morgan
Gloria Thorpe - Michelle Martinelli
Sister - Nina Feliciano
Doris - Katelin Foley
Miss Weston - Cassie Lee
Henry - Peter Fisher
Sohovik - Noah Lerner
Smokey - Anderson Cook
Rocky - Trevor Bates
Van Buren - Sam Lerner
The Plot - Meg complains about her husband, real estate agent Joe Boyd, a long-suffering, middle-aged fan of the Washington Senators baseball team.("Six Months Out Of Every Year"). After Meg has gone to bed, Joe suddenly meets a slick salesman, Mr. Applegate, who is in reality the Devil. Joe is convinced to sell his soul to the Devil to become the young and strong slugger Joe Hardy, the "long ball hitter the Senators need that he'd sell his soul for," and leaves his wife Meg ("Goodbye Old Girl"). However, Joe's business sense makes him think of an escape clause: the Senators' last game is on September 25, and if he chooses to play in that final game, he is "in for the duration"-he has until 9 o'clock that night to walk away from the deal and return to his normal life. Meanwhile, the hapless Senators are vowing to play their best despite their failings ("Heart"). As the young Joe is suddenly discovered, Gloria, a reporter, praises him ("Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo"). His hitting prowess enables the Senators to move up the standings.
Though Joe is increasingly successful, he truly misses his wife and begins boarding with her. Meg and the young man begin to bond, especially over her "lost" husband ("A Man Doesn't Know"). Fearful of losing his deal, Mr. Applegate calls Lola, "the best homewrecker on [his] staff", to seduce Joe and thereby ensure his soul to damnation. Lola promises to deliver ("A Little Brains, A Little Talent"), and Applegate introduces her as a sultry South American dancer named "SeƱorita Lolita Banana". Lola sings a seductive song ("Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets"), but Joe's devotion to his wife proves too strong, even for her. Applegate punishes her by sending her to Limbo, where she performs with other damned souls ("Who's Got the Pain").
Applegate decides to switch tactics to ensure Joe's failure. He releases false information about Joe Hardy's true identity being "Shifty McCoy", an escaped criminal and con artist. When Gloria discovers this information, she presses charges, and Joe is forced into court.
The Senators prepare for the final game against the Yankees for the pennant, and worry about Joe-but vow to think of nothing else but winning ("The Game"). Meanwhile, angry fans are seeking Joe out, so he decides to leave the Boyd home. As he does, he tells Meg that he is her old husband in a guarded way ("Near to You"). Meanwhile, Applegate is exhausted by the work he has put into collecting one soul, and thinks about the "simpler" times in his long history ("Those Were the Good Old Days").
Joe's day in court is on the same day as the Senator's final game. As Joe Hardy technically does not exist, he cannot produce any kind of identification as to his identity. The owner of the Senators, coach, and even Lola (disguised as "Senora McCoy") testify against Joe; unfortunately, their opinions are invalid. Gloria suggests that Applegate take the stand, but he is unable to take the oath due to its provision against lying ("Don't you have another version of that thing?"). Joe realizes that Applegate is simply stalling to keep him from meeting his nine o'clock deadline. Applegate claims that Joe "just needs time to think", and sends him to the lower levels of Limbo, where history's most famous lovers wait. Lola meets Joe there, and realizes that he truly does love Meg. She helps him by sending him into the final game, and delays Applegate by coercing him into a duet ("Two Lost Souls").
When Applegate finally arrives at the game, it is five minutes to nine, and Joe is at bat. As time runs out, Meg, her friends, and even Lola begin cheering for Joe to succeed. Applegate uses his powers to give Joe two strikes. The clock strikes nine, and Applegate claims victory-but at the last second, Joe cries, "Let me go!" The deal is broken, and he is transformed back into his old self. Amazingly, he is still able to hit a home run and win the Senators the pennant.
Back at home, Joe rushes into Meg's arms. Applegate appears on the scene, claiming that Joe owes him his soul. Joe begs Meg to hold him and not let go, and she begins to sing ("A Man Doesn't Know Reprise"). Applegate promises to make Joe young again, and even ensure a World Series victory. But his powers are useless against the pair's true love, which Lola points out. Applegate shouts that such a thing cannot exist-but he is wrong. He and Lola vanish back into Hell, defeated, with Joe and Meg united again forever.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
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