History suggests Satchel Paige was the greatest pitcher of all time. But his career preceded the moment that professional baseball’s color line was crossed. In fact, this new play — Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing — is set in 1947, just after Jackie Robinson’s debut. Paige and other black players are barnstorming in exhibition games against white teams when a downpour brings them together in a boarding house. We get to eavesdrop on their conversations about the changing world. The show is by the playwrights of Fly!, a past hit at the Playhouse. They used a tap dancer in that one; this time, a sax player called “Jazzman” extends the story’s emotions.
Through May 21. $30-$85. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 962 Mt. Adams Circle, Mount Adams, cincyplay.com.
This article appears in Apr 27 – May 4, 2016.
