Tiger Woods steps into the bare space. He is wearing his trademark Nike cap and a determined expression as he walks confidently to center stage. Once there, he clasps his hands as though he is holding an invisible golf club and smiles. He stands, frozen, while the lights shift around him. Soon, a spotlight pours down on him and music begins. The song is a classic: Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger." With each of the song's famous opening chords, Tiger strikes a new pose, changing positions with sharp movements. Eventually he launches into a perfectly choreographed dance sequence straight out of a Michael Jackson music video. With a smile on his face, he starts to sing.
Turning a famous golf champion into a character in a musical comedy is no small feat, but it is just one of the surprising scenes in "Chuckleball: Jailhouse Jocks." Described as a "Forbidden Broadway" for the sports world, "Chuckleball" puts today's sports headlines onstage to the tune of popular songs and show tunes. The current production of "Chuckleball" covers stories as recent as former Yankees manager Joe Torre's departure, and the program - called "Playball" - notes that new jokes are constantly being added to the lineup.
Although I did not get to see a full production of "Chuckleball," due to a show cancellation, I was given the opportunity to watch the cast film skits for publicity.
"Chuckleball" has a difficult mission to accomplish - think theater for the ESPN set - but it manages to blend sports and musical comedy with style. Its humor effectively caters to both its intended audiences.
One great scene has the cast gathering into a straight line to belt out a parodied rendition of "Seasons of Love." The staging and harmonies pay homage to "Rent," while the lyrics, lamenting the sad state of the Yankees bullpen, echo the sentiments of many New York fans. Another scene brings the cast together in the style of "The Music Man" - except that instead of Harold Hill railing against the evils of pool and gambling, "Chuckleball" has Senator George J. Mitchell describing the harmful effects of human growth hormones.
Its lyrics are clever and its songs are easily recognizable, but the real strengths of "Chuckleball" are the sports legends and the actors who play them. Every character, from Barry Bonds to Posh Spice, is a skillfully crafted caricature, put onstage to be lovingly mocked. Justin Senense is hilarious as David Beckham, playing the soccer superstar as a fop who dances merrily despite his infamous injury. Senense also stands out as a police officer who sings of football star Adam "Pacman" Jones' trouble with the law. Two of the actors, Noah DeBiase and Katey Daniel, work especially well together, playing a Jets-obsessed husband and an ignored wife to the tune of "Monday, Monday"" or a binoculars-wielding stalker and tennis pro Maria Sharapova in an adaptation of "Maria" from "West Side Story." Mike Mitchell, Jr. lends a more immediate form of comedy to the cast; he has his best moments in short scenes. His imitation of hyperactive boxing promoter Don King demands attention and his Marion Jones must be seen to be believed.
"Chuckleball" does have its weaker moments. Some of the lyrics are predictable and the transitions between numbers can be choppy. But when "Chuckleball" gets going, it taps into the charisma and energy of Broadway as well as the rowdy enthusiasm of a good sports broadcast. The cast is energetic throughout - they clearly have as much fun as the audience with every song. This keeps the jokes from seeming contrived, since the cast is sharing them as well. •
"Chuckleball: Jailhouse Jocks," Snapple Theater Center 210 W. 50th St., $45 www.chuckleball.com Runs through Dec. 30th
Josh Harrison is a staff writer. E-mail him at theater@nyunews.com.
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