Act I (45 Minutes)
FYI - The name of the team is the Empires. The play takes place in current times and could be in any major city with a baseball team. The play begins with a monologue by Kippy. He introduces us to Darren and explains who he is and how important he is to the team. Darren grew up middle class with a black father and white father. He was never challenged by anything, everything always went his way. Even baseball. He was not only the best play on the team but in the league.
Kippy also introduces Shane Mungitt, a relief pitcher that comes up from Triple A ball later in the season. All he throws is fast balls. He's kind of an ignorant, even innocent, redneck (no offense to anyone, it was a term they used in the play). He's not the brightest of men. The last man Kippy introduces was the Skipper who had nothing but high praise for Darren. (Insert Carmen looking adorable in his white with black pin stripe uniform, black athletic jacket and black baseball cap!)
Scene changes to a press conference when Darren shocks the hell out of everyone, especially his teammates, coming out and openingly admitting that he is gay.
Scene changes to lockerroom where Darren and Kip exchange dialogue. Skippy is Darren's best friend on the team and is one of the only guys on the team who isn't bothered by the fact that Darren is gay. But Kip was totally shocked and wanted to know why his friend decided to come out now. Darren's response...he's invincible. He's the best play in the league with the biggest contract. He often refers to himself as a God because of his talent and thinks his announcement doesn't change anything.
Following the announcement is another humerous scene between Jason and Darren. Jason had just finished his show when Darren was undressing in the locker room. It's humerous because of the way Jason reacts and some of the words coming out of his mouth. You can tell he's uncomfortable and doesn't know how to handle the situation. Darren just takes it all in stride.
Another amusing scene is when the catcher, Toddy, congratulates Darren. Toddy is kind of a dork but is still in awe of Darren becasue Darren is a talented baseball player.
Darren's announcement came as the team was on a huge winning streak. They looked to three-peat as World Champions. But after the announcement they started losing games. That's when reliever Shane Mungitt is called up. Then they started winning again.
Kip, is a nice guy. He and the others want to know more about Shane. But Shane isn't a talker, he's a relief pitcher with a job to do. But Kip, who is friends with everyone, gets Shane to open up. We learn he was an orphan, as his parents died when he was a baby in an 'attempted murder suicide' in which his father killed his mother and then killed himself. (Of course, Shane's ignorance makes the audience laugh, and you even feel a little sorry for the guy because he is so innocent). We are also introduced to Mason Marzac, Darren's financier. Mason was given the job of handling Darren's money after Darren made his announcement. Mason is a sweet guy and he's gay. When he learned he was going to meet Darren, he watched a baseball game for the first time. He had no idea what the game was about. But because of Darren he begins to learn.
Just before act one closes with a press conference where Shane's giving an interview after a big game he just one. The team is watching and were shocked. I don't wish to offend any one so I won't repeat any of the words he used They are insulting names about peoples' color or ethnic background. He ended the interview by refering to Darren as the f word and I'm not talking the curse word.
Of course Shane is suspended for his words. And Darren is starting to feel the pressure from everyone about his announcement.
FYI- Brentwood Theatre ~ I discovered the theatre had just recently been remodeled to host the Geffen plays during the Geffen Playhouse renovations. Also, it was the first time in forty years the play house had been used for plays. At least that's what I overheard this gentleman say. Apparrently him and his wife had been going to the Geffen House for years. Anyway, the theatre was small but it was beautiful both inside and outside.
Act II (75 Minutes)
William Danzinger is a fan who wrote a letter to Darren. Act two opens with his monologue.
The second act is more emotional than the first. And while it was also more serious there were a few humerous moments.
The Empires are losing again. There's an amusing shower scene with most of the guys. They're talking about how it's not the same when they take a shower now. Kip points out how they all face away from each other now when they bath.
There's a scene between Darren and his best friend Davey Battle (a player on a different team.) I apologize, for some reason I can't remember if this scene took place in act one or two but I do know it was well into the play. It's a conversation between these two men that took place just before Darren made his announcement. Davey talks about his wife and three kids as it should be for men in their position. Darren says he's single and likes it that way. The whole conversation is basically, you have to be honest with yourself as well as others otherwise your whole life is a lie. (At this point Davey has no idea either that Darren is gay. And Davey is not gay.)
There was a touching and humorous scene in the locker room. Takeshi Kawabata, their ace pitcher, lost a game. Some of the players were angry at him and letting out their frustrations. Now, for you to understand this scene, Takeshi is Japanese and doesn't speak any English. The humour is that no one else does but Kippy understands the guy anyway. If you know anything about Japanese Culture you know honor is very important. Takeshi explains some of this while Kippy translates for the guys. Every win in important for one's honor. But when Takeshi loses a game it's the equivalent of death. He says he's a dead man tonight because he is the pitcher and it was his responsibility. The guys were all touched by what he had to say and leave him alone. Darren is upset after a game, that the team lost. He learned that because the team is losing, they need Shane back. This makes Darren uncomfortable so he talks with the Skipper about it. (Carmen Insert!) It's a very emotional scene for Darren and the Skipper is trying to be as understanding as possible. The situation is unresolved, meaning Shane comes back no matter what Darren says.
So Darren talks with Mason about the possiblity of retiring from baseball the day Shane is supposed to return to the team. As I said before the man playing Mason steals every scene he's in. When we see him again he now is much more knowledgable about the game of baseball. He fascinated about how it's a game of numbers. And how some of those numbers coincide with each other. You can see he's turning into a baseball junky. He convinces Darren not to retire. Mason said it would not only be bad for basefall but for guys like them. It's hard for Darren but he agrees with Mason.
The scene changes to the game. The team is losing badly against Davey Battle's team. But Mason narrates as they start getting hit after hit and the team makes a comeback and is now ahead by one run.
Mason leaves and now it's the dug out scene. Jason pacing telling himself not to talk to the pitcher, Takeshi, because he's pitching a good game. (Carmen insert) Skipper yells at Jason to not talking to the f'n pitcher and to sit the f down. The inning changes and Takeshi takes the mound. First pitch...a hit. Second pitch...a hit. Skipper has to pull Takeshi and replaces him with Shane. Rightaway there's tension. Kip notices how mad both Darren and Shane look. Shane throws his fast ball and it hit's Davey in the head. Davey's not moving.
The next few scenes change quickly as the play is nearing the end.
Next scene is an emotional phone call scene between Mason and Darren. Kip comes in later. Davey is dead and they're all a little upset. Darren still wants to retire but again Mason convinces him not to retire.
We go back to two scenes that take place immediately before the game.
First is between Davey and Darren. Davey is mad at Darren about being gay. Davey didn't like the idea and questioned if Darren had wanted to more than a friend with him. Darren loved him as a friend. Both men lose their tempers, exchanges verbal insults, until the conversation ends with Darren telling Davey to drop dead or I hope you die...something like that.
Second scene is a shower scene. Shane has a ritual of taking three showers before a game. Darren, still mad after his conversation with Davey, comes in. He lashes out at Shane and they wrestle in the shower. They exchange obsenities and Darren quickly leaves.
Scene changes to the prison where Shane is. He wants to talk with Kip because Kip is his friend. Kip brings Darren along. They just want to know why Shane threw that ball at Davey. During their heated and very emotional talks it comes out that the words Shane said at his interview that got him suspended were actually from Kip. But Kip didn't mean them, he just thought he knew Shane and believed Shane was that kind of person. So now Darren's mad at Kip. More heated arguing then Shane drops the bomb about hearing the conversation Darren had with Davey before the game. Now Kip is shocked. All of their anger is now gone. Shane is upset and crying because all he wants to do is pitch but now he's not going to anymore.
Kip's final monologue. A brief sum of recent events. The Empires win the world series. Shane was released from prison, no evidence it was intentional that he killed Davey. But Shane was suspended from baseball for life. Darren joins him on the field. After all that's happened Darren and Kip decide to still remain friends, although it won't be the same as before. Then Mason arrives, deck out in jeans and baseball jersey, the avid baseball fan now. Kip leaves. Darren is talking about retiring again and again Mason convinces him to wait. Before Darren leaves he invites Mason to the celebration party. Mason is like a little kid he was so excited.
Mason has a monologue about baseball. About how there is not time limit and how anything could happen during the game to change it. It was a beautiful monologue whether you're a baseball fan or not, all you had to do was be a fan of life. And believe that in life, there are no limits.
Cast
Jeffrey Nordling as KIPPY SUNDERSTROM
Terrell Tilford as DARREN LEMMING
Jeremy Sisto as SHANE MUNGITT
Carmen Argenziano as WILLIAM R. DANZIGER/SKIPPER
Carlos Albert as MARTINEZ/TV ANNOUNCER
Byron Quiros as RODRIGUEZ
Bryce Johnson as JASON CHENIER
Ian Barford as TODDY KOOVITZ
Moroccco Omari as DAVEY BATTLE
Jeffrey Hutchinson as MASON MARZAC
and Ryun Yu as TAKESHI KAWABATA