The current production of Take Me Out is a tale of two terrific Jesses; Fire and Ice. Jesse Williams, as baseball ace Darren Lemming, never lets us see him sweat. Even though this is his first play, the actor, widely recognized from his role on the hit show "Grey's Anatomy," has worked hard to make sure he's learned the technique needed to carry this show. He took voice lessons, personal training, breath work, and physical therapy. And there is no doubt, Williams is fit. At the matinee I attended, it became obvious that several members of the audience were there mainly to see the nude scene of the ballplayers in the shower. Not coincidentally, Williams takes his shower last. And here, too, he handles it effortlessly. Even when he confronts the bigoted Southerner, Shane Mungitt (Michael Oberholtzer), he never loses himself. A word of praise must be said here for Oberholtzer; not only does he give a wonderful performance, but he's got the Arkansas Bill Clinton regionalism down cold.
The perfect balance to Williams's Lemming is Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Mason Marzac. He goes from being cool, at best, about baseball to becoming a raving fan. He lets us take the journey with a shy, lonely man who keeps his hopes, dreams, and enthusiasm close inside, to a man who is literally jumping with joy at the end.
It should be noted that even though the play takes place in 2002 with a fictional team, my companion was sure it was all about Derek Jeter, while I was certain it was definitely about my team, the Red Sox- and I cried when nostalgia crept it. So, it turns out that there really is magic in baseball — especially when it’s so beautifully presented.
