Magic/Bird
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Cititour.com Review
Part play, part multi-media presentation, part lecture, “Magic/Bird,” a basketball story about the rivalry of Ervin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird, stumbles through the peaks and valleys of success and failure for ninety minutes (no intermission) with an inconsistent narrative drawing the audience in at times and listing repetitive details about free throws, and other stats, for the rest of the evening. Penned by Eric Simonson, the man responsible for last season’s hit, “Lombardi” about the famed football coach, this script follows his tried and true formula. It should come as no surprise that one of the producers of “Magic/Bird,” is the National Basketball Association.
Kevin Daniels is terrific as Magic, the star of the Los Angeles Lakers, whose charismatic charm and broad smile, brought the basketball star great wealth. He became infamous when he contracted the HIV virus and suddenly became a spokesman about his struggle. Daniels has great stage presence and captures the heart of a man clearly thrilled to succeed from humble beginnings.
Tug Coker, as the soft-spoken Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, has the more challenging role here since Bird is a man of few words. But in his quiet, steady, way, Coker brings a great dignity to the part.
Directed with vigor by Thomas Kail, the supporting cast, including Peter Scolari, Deirdre O’Connell, Francois Battiste and Robert Manning, Jr., expertly handle a variety of roles from a high pitched Bryant Gumbel interviewing the sports’ stars, to coaches and fans, all adding a touch of drama and comic relief as needed.
At times feeling like a power-point presentation, at times like a suspenseful story full of heart, “Magic/Bird” does its best to weave a compelling story about these two basketball stars.
By Lesley Alexander
Visit the Site
http://www.magicbirdbroadway.com
Cast
Kevin Daniels, Tug Coker, Peter Scolari, Robert Manning, Deirdre O'Connell, Francois Battiste
Open/Close Dates
Opening 3/21/2012
Closing 5/12/2012
Box Office
212-239-6200
Theatre Info
Longacre Theatre
220 West 48th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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