“Under A Baseball Sky” is making its world premiere at our very own Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, in the round in the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center in Balboa Park through March 12th. Written by José Cruz González (“American Mariachi”) and directed by James Vásquez, this is the second of González’ commissioned works for The Old Globe.
“Under A Baseball Sky” delves into the history of San Diego’s Latino community and its love of baseball where, as immigrants, they formed the Mexican-American Baseball League in the 1920’s in a Logan Heights type neighborhood. Who knew?
History is too general a word for this rather sentimental and nostalgic look back into how the playwright weaves community, building friendships, families lost and gained, perseverance, politics, and sports into the mix. To these elements, González adds a dream like quality into the past that resonates throughout.
The ninety minute play opens on, what looks like an abandon, junk filled baseball field (Anna Louizos) cordoned off by a chain link fence with a shed in disrepair set off to one side (which I did not see) and a house belonging to Elí (Laura Crotte), the elderly matriarch of that community. Much of what we see on the surface has long gone to seed, but as they say, ‘the memories linger on.’
Into this setting, teenager Teo, (Diego Josef) who was recently expelled from high school, has to put in community hours of work while he’s out of school. His assignment is to clean up the cluttered lot. His supervisor/mentor is Chava (Joseph Morales), who also lives in the neighborhood, shows no sympathy for the wayward youth. On that topic, Teo, whose widowed mother was a naturalized citizen, but when she left her purse with all her papers at home and was stopped by police for a broken tail light and couldn’t produce her citizenship papers, she was sent back to Mexico. Teo's life takes on new meaning; now he's parentless and alone, save for Elí and Chava.
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| Laura Crotte and Diego Josef |
As for Elí, her thoughts are elsewhere. She resents Teo for being on the property, the place she and daughter Paloma (Ana Nicolle Chaves) played baseball before she went off to fight the union bosses to give Latino’s a decent wage. Later, when Elí and Teo learn that they both love baseball, their relationship, friendship and understanding builds. The scenes between mother and daughter are fun and uplifting but it all comes crashing down when Paloma leaves, and is not heard from in 40 years. All that remain are memories for Elí.
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| Laura Crotte and Ana Nicolle Chavez |
Memories flash as well with her son Santiago (Cesar J. Rosado), proud as he goes off to war but dies in a car accident; another blow to Elí. These montages come in flashback especially how proud she was of her son and daughter at a happy and joyous time in Elí’s life. But for the most part, anger and anguish gushe from her tongue and what follows is a of shouting in Spanish and English.
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| Cast "Under A Baseball Sky" |
Globe Resident Artist and Director Vásquez, shares in an interview in Playbill Magazine's Program Notes that his father was a high school baseball coach. Both playwright and director tapped into that source for more insight into the formation of Mexican-American baseball teams in the ‘20’s. They learned that unionizing and working together made a team stronger, ergo that info went into the mix along with some not so positive political commentary on the way this country treats its immigrant population.
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| Ana Nicolle Chavez, Laura Crotte, Cesar J. Rosado (Center) Diego Josef |
As with any team sport, strong team work makes a strong team. The cast can be commended for its dedication to their strong acting and commitment to the ideas and ideals of this budding playwright.
Credit go to Lighting designer Rui Rita for the ghost like flashes of color and sound designer Leon Rothenberg, who is also responsible for the crack of a bat to the sounds of catching a fast ball. Danielle Neives designed the costumes.
“Under A Baseball Sky” is a place of dreams.
Enjoy!
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through March 12
Where: The Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego
Photo: Rich Soublet all
Tickets: $33 and up
Phone: (619) 234-5623
Online: theoldglobe.org
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