No Playbill Photos at This Show

Don and I saw the 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Play the weekend before it closed. "Take Me Out" was first performed on off-Broadway in 2003, then opened on April 4, 2022 and closed on June 11, 2022. Upon winning the Tony on June 12, 2022, it decided to reopen on October 27, 2022 for a limited 14-week run.

The show is psychologically fascinating covering topics such as homophobia, masculinity in sports, racism, and class. It is about a top interracial centerfielder named Darren (many have commented he is a lot like Derek Jeter) announcing when he is at the top of his game that he is gay (which is where the comparisons stop). As most of the action takes place in the stadium's locker room, you can connect the dots as to what makes these men uncomfortable.

Toss in a new player (a pitcher with an incredibly strong fast ball), Shane, who is a blatant racist spewing much hate to the media about his teammates -- especially the one newly out of the closet and there is a lot of room for thought. 

The centerfielder is upset this new pitcher is allowed to play on the team even though he made him uncomfortable. The coach rightfully points out that the centerfielder made everyone else uncomfortable by coming out to the media and not talking to his teammates first. (You can see him trying to whine but that is different.)

There are shower scenes with lots of real water that has made the news for how they did that without flooding the stage, and what temperature was needed for the comfort of the players.

It also made news for these scenes being portrayed completely in the buff. When the first towel drops there is a gasp heard around the audience. One wonders, did they somehow miss the warnings?

The full nudity is the reason no pictures are allowed in the theater -- including the iconic Playbill shot many take to share with their friends on social media. As you walk into the theater they make you put your phone in a pouch that stays with you the entire time. It is actually pretty cool technology. It is called yondr. Talking to a representative after the show she (obviously) hopes it catches on. I will admit, it changed the atmosphere of the theater. People talked to each other instead of hiding behind their screens. The company says it makes leaving quicker because people want their phones unlocked.

The downside, is the lack of ability to take a picture of the stage. Then again, that is the idea.

After the show, we lined up to take one with our Playbills by the marquee.