Lately I've been moonlighting as a Seattle Rep Lobby Manager to help supplement my rather stark financial situation. I didn't mean to buy so much at H&M, it just kind of happened. Layering is my weakness.
If you've been to see a show at the Rep recently, you've most likely seen me working. I'm the one in clogs and arm warmers. Most of the time I'm interacting directly with our patrons giving them directions, answering questions or bring sexy back to the Concierge Desk. But every now and then I also get to interact with the actors in our shows. For example I always made a point to watch the Musketeers exit the theatre after their dashing, dangle-from-a-rope-OH!-don't-land-on-a-patron entrance at the top of the show. Who didn't love that part?
For You Can't Take it With You there are always actors milling about backstage, waiting for their appearance in Act II or their staggered entrances here and there. There are 18 of them after all. Well one Sunday I was in the green room heating up my microwavable Zesty Chicken dinner inbetween our matinee and evening performance. A lot of the actors had also gathered to eat a bite of dinner and chat. One of the actors, I won't say who for fear I'll be hit with a law suit, was excited to tell everyone that they bought "Bull Durham, only the greatest baseball movie ever." I know, I was shocked too. It was all I could do to smile and nod my head as I proceeded out of the green room with my scaulding hot black tray full of soupy chicken and imitation-carrots.
Hear me out, I like the movie Bull Durham as much as the next baseball enthusiast. But as a permanent benchwarmer myself, I've seen my fair share of baseball movies, especially starring Kevin Costner, and I just don't think that Bull Durham is the grand slam. (You're not even ready for all of the baseball puns that I'll be using.) At least he picked one that is probably in the top 10. The actor could have sighted Hardball starring Keanu Reeves or Mr. Baseball with Tom Selleck and then I would have had to control my gag reflex. Just because you're a Matrix boy or because you have a gigantic mustache does not mean that you should be making bad baseball flicks. Angels in the Outfield and Sandlot are pretty standard childhood fare and will probably be around "Foooooooorrrrrrrrreeeeeeevvvvvveeeeeerrrr" but they don't really capture America's favorite pasttime. And I don't even want to talk about monkeys playing baseball. Ed is just bad.
Let's get down to the real scoreboard. What about A League of Their Own? If you honestly can tell me that you don't know what I'm talking about if I say, "There's no crying in baseball" then it's time to retire your glove. That movie is classic. Or perhaps you think baseball movies should be more schtick and less heart. Then look at Major League. Ridiculous and nominated for Best Foreign Film by the Japanese Acadamy. Now that's a double play. But overall, in my heart of hearts, I think that the actual best baseball movie ever is Field of Dreams. I know, I know but she's from Iowa, of course she'd say that. Well, get over it. This movie quintessentially depicts what baseball is: playing it for the love of the game, in a cornfield, with Mufasa. Done and done.
I suppose I could have told the actor all of my opinions on baseball movies, but those programs aren't going to restock themselves. So let's just keep this between us.
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