A Cubs fan is a strange beast. I have a Chicago-raised, Los Angeles-living friend who travels to Chi-town to see a game or two. This special breed of homo sapiens has cheered the team on to defeat year after year. One year after the first pitch of the first game, a fan waved a banner that read, "Wait 'til Next Year." Oh, they have won the World Series twice: 1907 and 1908. As the season opens, a true Cubs fan is always saying, "This will be the year."
Baseball has more statistics than anything else in life, and the Bleacher Bums, true Cubbies fans, know them all. Developed and penned by Joe Mantegna and the Organic Theater Company, it is currently at OnStage Playhouse, in Chula Vista, under Bruce Wilde's direction. Ten actors provide the uninitiated with a delightful cross-section of the bleacher denizens at Wrigley Field as the Cubs play those nasty St. Louis Cardinals.
The show opens with Rose (Connie Terwilliger) searching the stands for her bleacher-bum, gambling husband. The younger generation is represented by The Kid, played by young newbie Melanie Haag, thus assuring a continuing tradition of die-hard fans. (Incidentally, a tombstone of a longtime fan yearning for the World Series, is inscribed "Couldn't Wait!") The lovely Melody (Angie Doren) settles in, removing her coverup, clad only in short shorts and a very revealing halter top. Being a bleacher bum allows for a cheap seat at the game and an opportunity for a good tan. Greg (Nathan Dean Snyder), who sits next to Melody, calls the play-by-play into his cassette recorder. He doesn't miss a moment, following the play perfectly, even though he's blind. Alas, he misses the beauty beside him—or does he? Suited and shirt-and-tied is Decker (Jerry Young) playing hooky from his hardware store. He places an occasional bet with some of the others. Marvin (Steven P. McLaughlin) is the bleacher's serious gambler. He'll take bets on anything, establishing odds these Cubs fans can't resist. He makes a good living. Zig (James P. Tarbert), a compulsive gambler, seems to be throwing the family money away. His wife, Rose, eventually finds him, and we find that she is a closet Cubs fan who knows more than her husband. Richie (Brandon Cano-Errecart), a nerd's nerd, keeps extensive stats while running errands for some of the other bums. Brandon has some of the best moments in the play. Richie's attempt to get up the courage to pick up Melody is absolutely a brilliant piece of silent comedy.
Finally, we are bothered by the totally annoying Cheerleader (Daniella Trimble) with a talent for offending a Cards outfielder. She unrolls a large, bleacher-sized banner which, if totally revealed, would definitely offend the whole visiting team as well as a majority of the audience. We also meet The Guard (Carter) briefly when he tries to oust one of the rowdies.
Nine innings in 90 minutes. It's fun, even for a non-sports fan like me. What makes this show so believable are the sound effects created by community theater's sound guru David Farlow. This is an intense track with almost no silence. Never on stage, yet always present, is the PA Announcer (Bob Christiansen). His voice creates the reality that the bleacher bums play off much of the time.
Bleacher Bums is a fun production. Probably much too short for the die-hard sports fan and a bit long for the person who doesn't know a hard ball from a softball. But there is so much more than sports and idiotic bets and odds. The relationship between Rose and Zig is, at times, quite touching. There is a nice bit between Greg and Melody. You are guaranteed to learn something new about baseball and gambling. Most importantly you will learn about that strange world at Wrigley Field of the Bleacher Bums.
