Tom Libonate as Vince Lombardi in LOMBARDI at Stagecrafters of Chestnut Hill. Photo by Joanne Davis
By Ellen Wilson Dilks
Chestnut Hill’s Stagecrafters opens their latest season with a production of Eric Simonson’s dramedy LOMBARDI. Bridget Dougherty directs this stage bio of famed football coach Vince Lombardi, which runs September 21, 26, 27 and 28 at 8 pm, as well as September 22 and 29 at 2 pm.
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
The oldest of five children, Vincent Thomas Lombardi was born on June 11, 1913, in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn. The Lombardi family were devout Catholics and church was mandatory on Sundays. Vince won a football scholarship to Fordham University, graduating in 1937. After a series of jobs—as well as attending law school, he began his coaching career as an assistant and later as head coach at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, New Jersey. He was assistant coach at Fordham University where he coached with Jim Lansing. He also coached for the United States Military Academy and the New York Giants before serving as head coach and general manager for the Packers from 1959 to 1967 and the Washington Redskins from 1969 until dying from cancer during the 1970 preseason.
Simonson condenses this award-winning career into a warm, funny and touching play that runs 90 minutes with no intermission. His premise is a young reporter for Look Magazine is given full access to Lombardi and the players to write about how the coach turned the Green Bay Packers into a national championship-winning team. We see his interactions with such popular players as Dave Robinson, Paul Horning and Jim Taylor. His interactions with the football obsessed Lombardi—and his nurturing wife, Marie.
The LOMBARDI production team has done a great job creating the world of the play. Richard Stewart’s unit set simply suggests the various locales: the Lombardi’s living room, the Packers locker room, a bar and coach’s office. The minimal amount of moving things around is handled quickly and smoothly. Key to setting time, place and tone are Patrick Martin’s and Stephanie Cowgill’s excellent projections; Bill Banspach and Martin also provide a very effective soundscape. Lighting things is Gilbert Todd. The 1960s costuming by Jen Allegra is spot on, especially Marie’s ensembles. All of this supports the story, while not overpowering the performances.
Jae West, Jamie Dougherty and Greg Kwokai in LOMBARDI at Stagecrafters of Chestnut Hill. Photo by Joanne Davis
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.
Director Bridget Dougherty makes great use of these elements, moving her actors around the space with a skilled hand. She elicits strong performances from each member of the cast, helping them create fully realized human beings. And they tell the story honestly.
The three players portrayed are an interesting bunch, ranging from the intensely hard-working Dave Robinson (nicely played by Jae West, a talented new face I hope we see more of) to the on-his-last-legs Paul Horning (a solid performance by Greg Kwoka, who evokes one’s sympathy for his pain-riddled existence as he tries to cover his deep-seated vulnerabilities) to Jim Taylor—a bit of an enigma, who shuns the press (nicely nuanced portrayal by Jamie Dougherty).
Jennifer Lear is a delight as Marie Lombardi, a woman who has been a distant second to football in her husband’s life. Lear is hilariously funny and earthy and motherly. She perfectly shows the viewer all of these characteristics, playing a complex woman while making us laugh. The reporter, Michael McCormick is beautifully done in the hands of Jonathan Barger. His interplay with both Lombardi’s is great fun to watch, and he easily blends in with the players when he bumps into them at a local bar one night. As our “guide” through the story, the character often speaks directly to the audience, and Barger has such natural charisma that he gets the audience invested in events right off. Even if you aren’t a sports fan, you pulled in.
Tom Libonate is an Energizer bunny as Lombardi. He leaves it all onstage as he dives full tilt into playing a man whose mind was always at warp speed trying to find better plays, better ways to win. It is clear Libonate has great love and respect for the man—and the myth.
I am not by any means a sports fan, but I was intrigued by the peek behind the scenes into what makes such a man tick. Does it take a strong personality to be a winning coach? Or is it just by dint of will? Check out LOMBARDI and let me know what you think…
There’s only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.
When You Go: LOMBARDI continues weekends thru September 29th. The performance running time is 90-minutes—with NO Intermission. The Stagecrafters Theatre is located at 8130 Germantown Ave., in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia [19118]—about a 40-minute drive from Delaware County. The venue is also available via public transportation: board the SEPTA R7 Chestnut Hill East to the Gravers Lane stop [go 3 blocks to your Left upon leaving the station to Germantown Ave.- and then 2 blocks to the left for the theatre] or R8 Chestnut Hill West train to the last stop (8600 Germantown Avenue) on R8 [exit the station on to Germantown Ave., and go right 4 blocks]. The train service is very regular and you can see a timetable at SEPTA.
The theatre is handicapped accessible, with the lobby and restrooms at ground level. Entry into the auditorium is made via two short ramps. Parking is not allowed on the property, but there is nearby street parking, as well as various lots along Germantown Avenue. Patrons with mobility issues can be dropped off at the door and then have their companion go park nearby. For further info about the theatre and the surrounding neighborhood, visit https://thestagecrafters.org/ OR—call 215-247-8881. Reservations can be made online, or by calling 215-247-9913. The Email address is info@thestagecrafters.org