Theater Review: 'Toni Stone' at Playhouse on Park

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

“Toni Stone,” an original play by Lydia R. Diamond, has opened at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford. The play, which was commissioned by the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York and is based on “Curveball, The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone” by Martha Ackmann, continues through June 16.

The Playhouse production is directed well by Jamil A.C. Mangan, who effectively uses the talents of the mostly non-Equity cast to tell this true story of the first woman to ever play professional baseball as a regular on a big-league team.

The director writes in the virtual program that this is more than a story about one woman’s journey through the male-dominated world of baseball. “It’s a testament to the resilience and determination of all those who dared to challenge the status quo,” he adds. The work also serves as a chapter in the larger narrative of the Negro Leagues, specifically highlighting the showmanship of the Indianapolis Clowns.

Mangan set out to pay tribute to the title character, the Negro League and those who paved the way for future generations of athletes. He invites the audience to step into her world as we see her triumphs and her setbacks. He breaks the fourth wall and allows a somewhat interactive experience. Mangan is an actor and director who earned a Connecticut Critics Circle award for his role as Troy in “Fences” at this venue.

The show covers the decades of the 1920-1950s in the United States, but the title character admits that she does not always tell her story in linear fashion.

Constance Sadie Thompson leads the African-American cast in the title role of the first female professional baseball player. Thompson completely embodies the talented ball player and her speaking voice is almost musical as she tells the life story of her character. The dynamic actor and youth advocate makes her Playhouse debut in the role.

Equity actor Brandon Alvion almost manages to steal the show in the role of Stone’s only female friend, a woman named Mille. Alvion, who played Harpo in “The Color Purple” national tour, is a delight to watch as the character and elicits plenty of laughs.

Adeyinka Adebola plays the baseball player Stretch and Tony N. King, who earned his MFA at UConn, plays the role of King Tut. Equity actor James Edward Becton, III plays the ball player Alberga in his Playhouse debut. Jamar Jones covers the role of Elzie in his Playhouse debut. Celester Rich plays the Spec and New York-based actor Bernard Scudder is Jimmy. Nathaniel J. Ryan portrays the role of Woody.

Costumes designed by Vilinda McGregor are based on baseball uniforms of the era, with some add ons to delineate the characters in Stone’s story. There is some movement choreographed by Maurice Clark.

Scenic Designer Johann Fitzpatrick has created a baseball dugout for the back of the three-sided stage area and two smaller spaces around the two pillars at the front of the stage. Props and set dressing by Judi Manfre work well. The work of Sound Designer Rachel Landy works well for this low-ceilinged space and lighting by Fitzpatrick sets the mood for some of the scenes nicely.

At two hours and thirty minutes, including a 15-minute intermission, the script is probably too long. As someone who knows only a little about baseball, I appreciated that Toni Stone gives a quick tutorial in the first act. I suspect that baseball fans would appreciate the history in the story and I was fascinated by the very human portrayal of the groundbreaking ball player. Tickets at playhouseonpark.org

Nancy Sasso Janis has been reviewing theatrical productions since 2012.