The 'Bums' are back at Metropolis

With the Cubs teetering near the top of the National League this season, now seems like a perfect time to bring back the "Bleacher Bums."

Producing this beloved Chicago Cubs baseball fan comedy is a savvy move by the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. But any theater producing "Bleacher Bums" faces a dilemma: Do you keep the play in its original 1977 setting, or do you try and get the rights to update it to reflect the Cubs of today?

Either way, you win some and you lose some.

In the last major Chicago revival of Bleacher Bums in 2004, some of the original authors updated the Cubs roster and cleaned up the script to make it more family friendly (the f-bomb was excised). Audiences at the Royal George Theatre audibly demurred when the characters name-dropped slugger Sammy Sosa and fan pariah Steve Bartman. But the sparsely filled bleachers on stage were in no way reflective of the sellout status of most Cubs games nowadays, so it felt inauthentic.

The Metropolis "Bleacher Bums" goes the historical route. The Cubs clubhouse and the fans' clothes (courtesy of costume designer Elizabeth Wislar) are all firmly rooted in the late 1970s with the goal of presenting a more accurate reflection of what the stands looked and sounded like back in the day. Fans drop the f-bomb now and then, and there's enough room for some women to lay out and get a proper tan.

But what's lost is an immediate audience connection to fans on stage as they place their faith in players like Ivan DeJesus, Bobby Murcer or Jerry Morales. Unless you know the strengths of the Cubs 1977 roster, "Bleacher Bums" becomes more of an historical or nostalgic artifact (depending upon your age).

That doesn't mean that audiences won't be able to fully relate. One thing that hasn't changed in the 30-odd years since the play debuted, is the Cubs perpetual losing streak and the undying hope Cubs fans have for their boys in blue to win the World Series again.

The action plays out in the real time of a baseball match up, with the drama coming not only with the outcome of the game against the archrival St. Louis Cardinals, but from watching the fans get caught up with betting inning after inning.

The "Bleacher Bums" cast picked out by first-time Metropolis director John Hildreth is good, though not as distinguished or believable as the 2004 Chicago revival. There's also a glaring piece of miscasting (or misdirection) with Michael Gonring's turn as the tag-a-long lackey fan Richie. Gonring's Richie comes across as being more socially maladjusted and intelligent instead of being slightly mentally challenged.

Stephan Scalabrino provides plenty of menace as Marvin, the gambler who cynically preys on Cubs fans' loyalty to make a killing on bets. One only wishes the rest of the cast could have ratcheted up the dislike of Marvin to show its true colors as undying Cubs loyalists (particularly in the case of David Tibble's turn as compulsive gambler Decker, who has the most cash at stake).

Jim Kozyra's annoying frat boy-sounding Cheerleader is loads of fun, particularly when he dabs on the body paint and ruthlessly heckles Cardinals outfielder Mike Anderson. Also adding to the comedy is Andy Gwyn's gambler Zig who must bear with the unexpected appearance of wife, Rose (Judy Laughlin, who does a great job nagging over cash, but could use more excitement while watching the game).

As the blonde sunbather Melody, Michelle Weissgerber looks great with her Farrah Fawcett hair and ditzy disposition. Craig Dingle's visually impaired Greg shows what a true baseball fan can be, embellishing plays to be more exciting in his mind than they actually are on the field. Alternating in the cameo role of the Kid is Kevin M. Gallagher and Michael Etzkorn.

Though probably not as exciting as an actual Cubs game, "Bleacher Bums" should be seen by any die-hard Cubs fan. Not only does Metropolis' production boast great production values to reflect the friendly confines of Wrigley Field (a credit to Adam Veness' cozy set design of ivy and green bleachers and to William A. Franz's cheering fan sound design), but how many other baseball teams actually have a play dedicated to its loyal fans? And at that, a play that articulates why generations of Cubs fans perpetually rally around their lovable losers.

'Bleacher Bums'

2½ stars (out of four)

Location: Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights

Times: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and 7 p.m. Saturdays; through Sept. 6

Running time: 90 minutes; no intermission

Tickets: $27

Box office: (847) 577-2121

Rating: some cussin' and adult themes

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=1&type=video&item=191">Clip from 'Bleacher Bums' at the Metropolis </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>