A Review

Headin' For Home

By R. J. Donovan

For a sweet evening at the theatre, there's probably no better choice than "Nobody Don't Like Yogi" -- starring Ben Gazzara as Yogi Berra -- at The Wilbur for eight performances only.

It’s 1999 and Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium. The humble legend is about to step out onto the field before a packed house.  He's there to allow his illustrious career to be acknowledged.  The legend has been away from the fans for a while, and he's not sure what to expect.  Or what to say. In his own words, his idea of making a formal speech is to say "Hi. My name's Yogi Berra.  Are there any questions?"

Over the next 90 minutes, he roams the locker room and speaks directly to the audience as he recounts his boyhood, his love of family, his triumphs, his disappointments and everything in between. 

Never making it to high school, Yogi is from the school of street smarts. Instinct, heart and conscience led the man to an amazing career as a hitter, a player and major league manager.

While Tom Lysaght's script relies heavily on Berra's mangled malaprops ("When you come to a fork in the road, take it," "You can observe a lot by watching" and "I want to thank everybody for making this day necessary"), he does impart several touching stories.

There's nothing very deep or heavy here.  But in the hands of someone as skillful as Ben Gazzara (left), it makes for a thoroughly enjoyable visit with a gentle soul who cared deeply about baseball and how it was played.

Gazzara doesn’t particularly look like Berra. And he doesn’t really sound like Berra. But at some magical point in a very deft performance, he subtly works his craft to become the essence of the man. By the time he walks off to go home to his wife and his kids and his grandchildren, you’re applauding Yogi.

In these days of criminally-high salaries, drug rumors and loyalty that’s as fleeting as the spotlight, it's almost a breath of fresh air to know that Yogi ruled a clubhouse that never saw one locker room fight in his 17 years as boss. He had to be doing something right, because his principled, dignified way of working led him to become the only manager to win pennants in both the American and National Leagues. Those were the days when baseball was a game, not a bazillion dollar movement.

Along the way there are stories about Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, George Steinbrenner, Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantel, Joe DiMaggio and others.  Do you have to be a baseball fan for all of this to make sense?  Nope.  It's the heart of the man that comes through.  Can a Red Sox fan find joy in the performance.  Absolutely.  Gazzara tosses off one hometown zinger that draws howls.

In the end, what you’re left with is a warm look at a decent, unassuming man of integrity who tried to see the good in life.

Nothin’ wrong with that.

"Nobody Don't Like Yogi" is at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont Street in Boston, through March 13. For information, call 617-931-2787.

-- OnStage Boston

3/11/05