newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JERRY MILANI

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

For even the most casual of sports fans, the story of the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson relationship may have seemingly been done to death in the last few years. A book by Jackie MacMullan, a great HBO documentary, even the recent ESPN documentary "The Announcement," all kept uncovering more tidbits about the rivalry and friendship between the two NBA stars. What could be next, a reality series, a musical?

Well musical no, but play, yes. On Wednesday, the producers who brought Vince Lombardi back to life in "Lombardi" last year, New Jersey native Tony Ponturo and co-creator Fran Kirmser, tipped off "Magic/Bird," a six person drama about the story both on and off the court between these two icons. The play, at the Longacre Theatre, stars newcomers Tug Coker and Kevin Daniels as Bird and Johnson respectively, with a supporting cast that includes popular actor Peter Scolari (in the roles of three iconic sports figures in Pat Riley, Dr. Jerry Buss and Red Auerbach) and actress Deirdre O'Connell, whose multiple roles include that of Georgia Bird, Larry's mom and the woman responsible for really pulling the two desperate personalities together during a Converse commercial shoot at Larry's house (and yes, the commercial is part of the outstanding visual effects in the play).

The 90-minute story takes fans from the moment Bird gets the call about Johnson's HIV announcement through their Olympic finale and then back again to where it all started, at the 1979 NCAA Final Four. Coker, an accomplished high school basketball player in his time, nails the role of Bird, down to the mannerisms and the jump shot form (there are hoops on the stage), while Daniels, with bigger shoes to fill as Johnson, delivers the spirit of Earvin if not all the mannerisms.

Regardless, their chemistry is solid and the story is very believable through their eyes, even for fans that thought they had heard it all before. The rest of cast, from Francois Batiste (hilarious in one of his roles as Bryant Gumbel) to Ray Manning Jr. all take turns delivering on multiple fronts, as the play addresses the misconceptions about HIV, race issues in Boston, tension in the rivalry and the competitiveness Johnson was both respected and originally challenged on when he first arrived in Los Angeles. The sets, the music and the timing all work and wills satisfy even the most skeptical of sports fans with their amazing authenticity.

Because you have six actors playing so many roles, the set changes and character shifts can sometimes leave you lost as to who is who -- is that Norm Nixon or Byron Scott, is it Cedric Maxwell or another Celtic, why is Pat Riley now drinking in a bar with a Boston accent -- but all those challenges are overcome by the true-to-life story, and the work that director Thomas Kail and writer Eric Simonson (also "Lombardi" collaborators) do to bring the story to life on stage. It may not uncover new ground, but it retells the familiar tales, and some forgotten, with a brisk walk down memory lane. More importantly, for young people new to the story or for those unfamiliar with the details of the relationship between Johnson and Bird, the play will hit home very easily, with little window dressing needed to build the stars and feature a story that transcends basketball, race, personality and emotional conflict.

Like with "Lombardi," the producers stay true to authentic form with story and sets. The partnership with the NBA brings the right video and uniforms to the table, as well as some string marketing support. Very little is done in the name of "artistic license," and the actors are very believable as athletes. Scolari as Red Auerbach, maybe the most unfamiliar personality in the story for those new to the NBA, is truly a must see.

So will Magic/Bird do for a new audience of theatergoers what "Lombardi" started? Bringing sports fans to theater and giving theater fans more exposure to the drama of sport? Yes. Does it do justice to the NBA and two of its biggest stars, not just as athletes but as people? For sure. Will it last longer than the eight months "Lombardi" did at Circle In The Square? Maybe.

Even without a big name star, "Magic/Bird" is a solid story of human emotion, bathed in a backdrop of sport. That should bring in sports fans from all over and hopefully those who enjoy the theater enough to give another new American play a first look. It was a fun 90 minutes putting a new live spin on a great, not so old story, one that you can take kids to see (next Friday Johnson himself will give a talkback, and other events are planned for future performances) as well as senior groups.

Well done Magic/Bird team, best of luck all season.