Theater Review: The Sweetest Swing in Baseball

by Jenni Stewart

When I go out to the theatre, I expect to see something that I can’t see at home on television. I expect to be engaged, to be a part of a communal experience that you can only get from live theatre. I was not satisfied by the kitschy AmeriStage Players' production of The Sweetest Swing in Baseball which opened this weekend in Plano. The show held the artistic and entertainment value you would expect from a made for TV movie on Lifetime.

The show tells the story of Dana Fielding, an artist whose career and personal life go straight down the drain, prompting her to attempt suicide. She finds herself in a mental institution where she enjoys the safety and pressure-less environment. When she finds out that her insurance will only pay for a short stay she pretends to be the infamous baseball player Daryl Strawberry in order to receive a more serious diagnosis and a longer stay in the mental ward where she finds personal sanctuary.

With such a dramatic setup, one expects to go on a journey with a woman as she learns to find personal strength and confidence in her self and her art. The resolution I received is that the lead character finds personal strength by becoming a heinous witch. The heroine Dana (Christa Hinckley) was not very likeable. The acting lacked maturity and completely missed a personal connection with the audience. In fact, few of the actors established a connection with the audience, let alone each other. There was a complete misuse of the space which was configured with the audience seated on both sides, excruciatingly long scene changes, too many blackouts, and one too many sound cues featuring lyrics about losing one’s mind.

The show, for what it was, did have some enjoyable moments. The script has some humor which shined through. Each character managed to find some, if not all, the comedy and hit the dramatics beats well. Standout performances were given by Shannon Brock as Rhonda/ Dr. Gilbert and Andrews Cope as Gary/Roy. These actors managed to pull off entertaining, believable characters with what felt like little direction. The show seemed a bit under-rehearsed with many actors who seemed to be trying to remember their lines and superfluous action.

If standard American drama is your cup of tea, The Sweetest Swing in Baseball will be running through August 12th at the Cox Building Playhouse in Plano. Anyone that brings a new, unused phone to card to the box office will get a $3 discount to any show. The phone cards will be donated to the military. For reservations, call 469-223-6409.