Theater Review: Rounding Third

by Carol M. Rice

Rounding Third, currently presented by Frisco Community Theatre, has a relatively typical premise: two completely different men find themselves having to work together – in this case, coaching a little league baseball team – and through their association find they are more alike than they think.

Pretty common plot, right? Well, FCT’s production is anything but common.

I’ve seen a great number of Frisco Community Theatre’s productions over the past several years, and this is by far the strongest through and through. The two-person cast of Erik Knapp and Russell Johnson is well-nigh perfect. There was never an instant I didn’t believe these guys. Mr. Johnson plays Don, the “baseball is life, winning is everything” sort of coach who expects everyone on the team to give it their all no matter what, even though they’re only 12. He doesn’t understand Mr. Knapp’s character, Michael, at all, because Michael just wants the kids to have fun. In Don’s eyes, the only way it can be fun is to win.

Having coached t-ball for 5-year-olds myself last season with a less than stellar team, there is some truth to Don’s theory. It IS more fun when you win, and the kids know that, too - even at age 5.

And have you ever noticed that the coach’s son is either the best guy on the team or the worst? Yep, Don’s son is the best player and Michael’s is the worst. And when Don’s son quits the team to be in the school play, he takes this very personally, as if it’s an insult to his manhood. This is kind of understandable from a guy who remembers what his own stats were when he was 12 and still describes vividly the play that one of his teammates screwed up to lose them the championship.

On the other end of the spectrum, Michael just wants his son to catch the ball. Just once, so he can know what if feels like. It really is a miracle these guys don’t kill each other at the first game, their theories on baseball and winning are so diametrically opposed.

Director John S. Davies has done a great job with his actors, making them real people instead of the caricatures they could have been. Mark Walters’ simple set worked will in the space, although some of the long blackouts where they just moved the bench back and forth to either side of the stage weren’t necessary and slowed down the pace. The seams every four feet in the backdrop (which was beautifully and simply painted) should have been taped.

I would like to have seen more costumes for at least Michael -- he wore the same golf shirt for the first act, which covered about half the season, and was actually distracting. Then to have the two men in matching plain baseball jerseys at the end seemed contrived. No costumer is mentioned in the program.

A sound designer is also not mentioned, but I have to praise whoever put the sound together because it was great! You had the traditional baseball park organ mixed with ALL those songs that talk about baseball and winning! And the sound effects of balls being hit and hitting the batters in the head (with helmets...no little leaguers were hurt in the making of this play to my knowledge) were dead on. All of the sound was very fun and effective.

Rounding Third is truly a wonderful show. I laughed a lot and was moved a few times. Playwright Richard Dresser has written a solid, well-rounded play (pardon the pun), and FCT has brought it to life beautifully.

Frisco Community Theatre currently performs at the Cox Building Playhouse in Plano, as they recently lost their performance space in Frisco. Rounding Third continues through October 25, so don’t wait to catch this excellent show! Purchase tickets online or by calling 972-754-2672.

Carol M. Rice is the Artistic Director of Rover Dramawerks and has worked as an actress, director, and playwright in theatres all over the Metroplex.