Also delightful are this show’s voices. Old and young Joes both have beautiful tone, and Stoddard is exceptionally deft with his dynamic range — he has a gossamer touch in the serious, soulful numbers, but can also belt it out like nobody’s business. His teammates, led by Manager Van Buren (the fine, big-voiced Joseph Cooper), give a rousing, perfectly harmonized rendition of the classic “Heart,” and later, without him, they moan over the strict no-booze-or-women rules of the clubhouse in the hilarious “The Game.”
Of course, it’s not all just team songs, homers, and pats on the knickers for Joe, what with his deal-with-the-devil and all. In hopes of voiding the deal’s escape clause, Mr. Applegate throws a few curve balls, none more curvy than “the best home-wrecker on his staff,” the red-haired Lola (Jessica Moryl). Her assignment: to wreak sexually-induced amnesia on Joe and his love for poor, abandoned Meg. Moryl has got some great moves and a sly, expressive face, and if she’s slightly less convincing as the conscienceless vamp than as the smitten woman she soon becomes, it only sweetens the tale of Joe’s triumph.
For after all, this is a story not just of an underdog team, but of the archetypal little guy with his big hopes and belly. To watch not just his plaint and struggle, but his simple American glory — this is some good summer refreshment. The country of underdogs might be romantic, but after all — I’ll concede it — victory is pretty good, too.
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Megan Grumbling: mgrumbling@hotmail.com
