I’m always up for an afternoon of theater, especially children’s theater, but when I read about Honus & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure, the current offering from the Oregon Children’s Theatre (OCT), I wasn’t sure it would be the best show for my 8-year-old son and me. We don’t follow major league baseball for one thing, and my son has never played Little League. Still, we decided to give it a try.
We’re so glad we did!
OCT’s new home in the Winningstad Theater is an ideal venue for children’s theater. It’s intimate, inviting and there’s not a bad seat in the house. The Honus & Me cast members are delightfully appealing, especially Camas High junior Blake Wales, who carries much of the show as Joey Stoshack, and adult actor Andrew Hickman, who plays legendary shortstop Honus Wagner. The baseball backdrop undoubtedly will appeal to fans of the all-American pastime, but you don’t need to be a fan to appreciate the story. Like baseball itself, Honus & Me is about perseverance, passion (for the game), and the power of believing in yourself.
Audience participation during a “seventh inning stretch,” complete with a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” draws everyone into the show while allowing little ones a short fidget break. After the show (which runs 75 minutes with no intermission), it’s fun to meet the cast members and get their autographs out in the lobby.
Even for those of us who’ve never caught baseball fever, Honus & Me hits a grand slam.
Details:
Honus & Me: A Baseball Card Adventure. 2 and 5 pm March 14, 15, 21 and 22. $16 to $24 adults, $20 to $13 children, plus service charges. Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway. 503-248-4335. www.octc.org.
Submitted by Emily

March 10th, 2009 | Category: Metro Parent