The Celtics Through Red's Eyes

Nobody is as closely associated with the proud history of the Boston Celtics franchise than Arnold “Red” Auerbach. Although the former coach and president of the club is no longer alive, his stories are being retold in a one-man show playing at the Park Theatre titled, “The Auerbach Dynasty.”

The play is written and directed by Ken Dooley, who also wrote and directed “,” which premiered at the Park Theatre in January. Dooley met Auerbach in 1984. The two became friends and collaborated on a couple of projects.

For die-hard Celtics fans, the “The Auerbach Dynasty” will conjure memories of players and events that made the Celtics the most successful franchise in professional basketball. Championships, player transactions and rivalries are well-chronicled as each chapter of the club’s history is retold.

On a more personal level, Auerbach’s relationship with his players and those who influenced his remarkable career are conveyed to the audience, as is the sometimes contentious interaction he had with the media and the league commissioner.

Jeff Gill, who brilliantly played the defense attorney in “The Murder Trial of John Gordon,” portrays Auerbach. Despite losing his train of thought a couple of times in the second act, his stories were well delivered. However, the clearer you remember how the actual Auerbach looked and spoke, the more you’ll have to allow for artistic license.

In fairness, Auerbach was a talented story-teller. Even if Gill was several inches shorter and sounded more like Auerbach, it would be difficult to match the Celtic legend’s gift for gab.

While many of the anecdotes in the play have been told or written before, they’re still interesting and are accompanied by lesser-known details. As the stories are told, photos of former players and coaches are projected on a large screen in the background.

For those who are not very familiar with the Celtics’ history, the stories may not elicit much of an emotional response. Perhaps a more detailed description of some of the personalities involved, as well greater insight into Auerbach’s family life, would appeal more to the casual fan.

Many topics are covered during the course of the play. In several cases, the transition was made by recalling a quote or reading a saying from a fortune cookie, as Auerbach was always fond of Chinese food. In some instances, the change in subject felt contrived, rather than a stream of consciousness that you would expect from someone recalling events from the past.

As a Celtics fan, I appreciated listening to the history of basketball’s original dynasty from Auerbach’s perspective. As a theater-goer, I was little disappointed by the actor’s story telling.

“The Auerbach Dynasty” is playing at the Park Theater through May 1. On Fridays and Saturdays, the show time is 8:00 p.m. On Sundays, the play begins at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $35.