Sound system damns 'Yankees'

Out here in Cardinal country, the phrase "damn Yankees" is a familiar one and local folks can empathize with a guy who'll do anything to see his beloved local team defeat the over-financed, over-privileged team from the Big Apple.

So it was a supportive crowd of 1,027 who turned out to try and hear Atlanta-based Alkahest tour group perform "Damn Yankees" at the Show Me Center Thursday.

It's the story of Joe Boyd, a salesman who trades his soul to see his beloved Washington Senators defeat the Yankees in the pennant race. But this classic Faustian tale has a hero who understands the value of an escape clause.

Unfortunately the sound -- designed and engineered by Kyle Easley -- just wasn't up to filling the space and efforts to compensate resulted in unevenly microphoned singers.

Some of the funniest lines were lost to a large part of the audience.

To their credit, the performers didn't let it dampen their enthusiasm and for a couple of hours, they transported the audience to a world of magic and baseball.

Aubry Ludington was the nosy reporter, Gloria. Together with a baseball team chorus in "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo," Ludington gave spark to an uneven first act.

Devilishly good

But it was the devil who swiped the show. From his oiled hair to his red socks, W. Bradley Wages, at times mincing at others maniacal, was top-flight.

His show-stopping solo, "Those Were The Good Old Days," revealed a longing for the times when the rack was in fashion and aggression was cool.

Though the story is set at a time when Micky Mantle was still at the plate and girls swooned over Gregory Peck, Wages gave the show a modern sensibility, tossing off one-liners about Gary Condit and Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.

Jill Godfrey and her numerous assets entered -- legs first -- and gave the role of Lola her all. In her hands, "What Lola Wants, Lola Gets" was one part Charro and one part Cyd Charisse.

Nick Darrow was solid as the good-hearted ball player, Joe Hardy who refuses to be seduced. His clear tones matched well with those of Melissa Swenson, as Meg Boyd.

Burt Adams ably handled double duty as Joe Boyd and the baseball team owner.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

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