Damn Yankees at Haverford High School

Theater: Haverford High School
Show: Damn Yankees
Seen: March 9, 2008
Reviewer: Osita Igwe
Submitted: March 10, 2008

Everyone has heard of fanatic fans. But how far would you go to make sure
your favorite team won a championship? Not many people would sell their
souls like the main character in Damn Yankees, which was performed last
weekend at Haverford High School. This Tony Award winning musical created
by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and based off the book The Year the Yankees
Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop, premiered on Broadway on May 5, 1955
and ran for 1,019 performances.

Set in Washington D.C. during the 1950s, a time when the unstoppable New
York Yankees were dominating major league baseball, a washed up, middle aged
, real estate agent Joe Boyd (Josh DiCristo) sells his soul to sleazy
salesman Mr. Applegate (Ben Mahan) who in reality is the Devil. In return
for Joe's soul, Applegate promises that he will transform Joe into the young
and strong slugger, Joe Hardy (Jeremy Lloyd), who will be able to turn the
season around for Joe's favorite baseball team, the charismatic, yet failing
Washington Senators.

Haverford High School's performance was carried by the incredible energy and
chemistry of the entire ensemble. Many of the show's vivacious songs were
sung with enthusiasm, emotion and the sheer enjoyment of being part of the
production.

Ben Mahan as the diabolical, self-centered, deceptive Mr. Applegate
delivered a character that everyone loved to hate. Whether nailing his
comical punch lines, or nailing his notes, Mahan delivered to the audience a
character that was all around sheer evil, but had enough human qualities
that the audience could relate to.

As Lola, Marissa Barnathan clocked in with an amazing performance that
combined the air of a seductive "home wrecker" and a human with a caring
soul underneath years of fallen debris. The role of Lola was a role that
showcased all of Barnathan's abilities as a performer. It illustrated her
full potential as a singer, dancer and an actor.

The gang of the Washington Senators added its own humorous twist to the
show, as the comic relief. "The Blooper Ballet" is a scene that, if not
portrayed properly, could easily be overdone, and therefore the humor of the
scene would have been lost. But Haverford's Senators portrayed this scene
perfectly. The audience could not help but laugh.

The stage crew did a good job. They moved the shows many sets and props on
and off the stage smoothly and efficiently.

Overall, the Haverford High School's cast and crew did a great job, and
deserve many rounds of applause.

by Osita Igwe of The Agnes Irwin School