What I liked
The sound design, costumes, and set design were 100% spot on. They did their job perfectly by taking me back to another era. I was very impressed by how well the sound of radio was captured in the interstitial sound clips and also the attention to that detail.
I was particularly impressed by Twon Pope’s protrayal of Gus Greenlee. He showed great subtlety in being an honest, pragmatic commissioner across from his foil, Cum Posey.
What I didn't like
This play demanded greater emotional range to deliver its story. It’s a trite comment—I know—but there was real richness here that could be built on. For people who don’t know anything about the Negro League, baseball, or the business of baseball, the audience relies on the reactions to events transpiring to understand when things go well or when they go really sour. When something goes wrong (like Jackie Robinson joining white baseball, or the revelation that someone is cooking the books) it needs to feel like something really goes wrong onstage.
My overall impression
I usually love historical dramas, and Blackballed is just what I wanted to see after learning about it at a Fringe Office Hours. Blackballed was the kind of slow burn that I love to watch on TV and stage. So much of theatre experiments with plot, costume, staging, etc., and sometimes all you need to tell a compelling story is the verisimillitude and dialogue that Blackballed delivered so well.
