Championship Season Turns into Full-Court PressBy Lauren Yarger
Four teammates and their coach reunite to recapture the glory of their high school basketball championship season, but 20 years later, when they meet in 1972, the heady memories turn into a pressurized full-court press as the men face challenges of health, success and loyalty on the other side of their once glorious youth.
George Sikowski (Jim Gaffigan) is now the mayor of the town, somewhere in the Lackawanna Valley, and promises campaign manager and junior high principal James Daley (Kiefer Sutherland) the superintendent of schools job if he’s re-elected. George’s success depends on a big campaign contribution from Phil Romano (Chris Noth), but it seem both he and James might want to tip the ball to George‘s opponent.
Using the influence he still has with his former athletes, Coach (Brian Cox), who isn’t in the best of health these days himself, plies the men with drink -- even James’ alcoholic brother Tom (Jason Patric) -- and tries to rally loyalty and teamwork, but he might get blocked. There are several turnovers in an even match seemed destined for overtime until a foul is called: Phil had an affair with George’s wife complicating the mayor’s decision to accept his help.
That Championship Season by Jason Miller was a "nothing-but-net" winner of the NY Drama Critics Circle, the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize when it premiered on Broadway in 1973, but its dialogue, full of the men’s racial prejudices and degradation of women, makes it seem more a lucky rim shot today.
Gregory Mosher directs a talented cast including two of television’s most popular stars. Sutherland does a good job creating a character not reminiscent of “24’s” Jack Bauer and has great chemistry with Noth of “Law & Order” and “Sex in the City” fame. Patric scores a three-pointer for his portrayal of defeated-in-life Tom, whose funny sarcasm increases with his level of inebriation.
Mosher applies zone, rather than man-to-man direction with the rest of the cast, however. Gaffigan seems miscast and never develops a rhythm with the other players. Cox’s portrayal causes the coach to look more like a bench warmer than the controlling manipulator the dialogue tells us he is.
MVP of this production, however, goes to Michael Yeargan for his functional and visually satisfying design of the elegant stained-glass, wood-trimmed set of the old home the coach inherited from his mother.
The limited engagement runs through May 29 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th St., NYC. For tickets call 212-239-6200 or 800-432-7250.
Christians might also like to know:
Language
Lord’s name taken in vain
Sexual dialogue
Four teammates and their coach reunite to recapture the glory of their high school basketball championship season, but 20 years later, when they meet in 1972, the heady memories turn into a pressurized full-court press as the men face challenges of health, success and loyalty on the other side of their once glorious youth.
George Sikowski (Jim Gaffigan) is now the mayor of the town, somewhere in the Lackawanna Valley, and promises campaign manager and junior high principal James Daley (Kiefer Sutherland) the superintendent of schools job if he’s re-elected. George’s success depends on a big campaign contribution from Phil Romano (Chris Noth), but it seem both he and James might want to tip the ball to George‘s opponent.
Using the influence he still has with his former athletes, Coach (Brian Cox), who isn’t in the best of health these days himself, plies the men with drink -- even James’ alcoholic brother Tom (Jason Patric) -- and tries to rally loyalty and teamwork, but he might get blocked. There are several turnovers in an even match seemed destined for overtime until a foul is called: Phil had an affair with George’s wife complicating the mayor’s decision to accept his help.
That Championship Season by Jason Miller was a "nothing-but-net" winner of the NY Drama Critics Circle, the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize when it premiered on Broadway in 1973, but its dialogue, full of the men’s racial prejudices and degradation of women, makes it seem more a lucky rim shot today.
Gregory Mosher directs a talented cast including two of television’s most popular stars. Sutherland does a good job creating a character not reminiscent of “24’s” Jack Bauer and has great chemistry with Noth of “Law & Order” and “Sex in the City” fame. Patric scores a three-pointer for his portrayal of defeated-in-life Tom, whose funny sarcasm increases with his level of inebriation.
Mosher applies zone, rather than man-to-man direction with the rest of the cast, however. Gaffigan seems miscast and never develops a rhythm with the other players. Cox’s portrayal causes the coach to look more like a bench warmer than the controlling manipulator the dialogue tells us he is.
MVP of this production, however, goes to Michael Yeargan for his functional and visually satisfying design of the elegant stained-glass, wood-trimmed set of the old home the coach inherited from his mother.
The limited engagement runs through May 29 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th St., NYC. For tickets call 212-239-6200 or 800-432-7250.
Christians might also like to know:
Language
Lord’s name taken in vain
Sexual dialogue
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