Review: 'Golf: The Musical'

Fore! Laughs galore at Meadow Brook

I'm not a golfer. Sure, I've knocked a few balls around over the years, but I get easily bored - and midway through an eight-hole game, I can usually be found not on the green, but at the nineteenth hole. (That's the clubhouse bar, for those not in-the-know!)

So when the opening number of "Golf: The Musical" at Meadow Brook Theatre asked the question, "Why do a show about golf?" last Wednesday night, I had to laugh: I'm sure many of us in the audience were wondering that same thing!

It took barely a stanza to discover the answer.

If you think about it for a minute, what rhymes with "golf"? Not a damn thing, and therein lies the show's charm - as well as its challenge.

Right from the start, the four personable and talented performers make it abundantly clear that "Golf: The Musical" never aspires to be "Les Miserable" or "A Little Night Music." With a gentle "wink-wink" here and a "nod-nod" there, it's obvious that Meadow Brook's latest offering has its roots in vaudeville - not Voltaire.

And that's what apparently struck a chord with much of the audience on opening night.

For "Golf: The Musical" is an entertaining evening of theater that rarely takes itself seriously. Sure, its collection of golf-themed skits, jokes and original songs can be downright hokey at times. But in these days of pre-election vitriol, isn't that what the caddy ordered?

Author/composer/lyricist Michael Roberts leaves no sacred cows unskewered in this production. The song "Plaid," for example, pokes fun at the outfits duffers like to wear, while "No Blacks, No Chicks, No Jews" humorously needles the WASP-ish culture of the game. And "The Golfer's Psalm" joyously celebrates the almost mystic connection the sport seems to have with some of its congregants.

Not every segment is wonderful, of course. "Presidents and Golf" is only mildly amusing, as is "A Great Lady Golfer."

But when the ball hits the fairway, the show is rollicking fun. That's especially true with "Let's Bring Golf to the Gulf" - the Act 1 closing tune that sticks with you for hours. And "The Road to Heaven" - a salute to two of the world's best known duffers, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby - impressively evokes the feel these two longtime friends had for each other, especially ad-libbing in front of the cameras!

The show's ace-in-the-hole, however, is its cast.

As a group, Joel Blum, Neal Mayer, Christopher Sutton and Lyn Philistine give spirited performances from start to finish. Their voices usually blend well; their energy never wanes.

It's when each has a solo outing that their skills are especially notable.

Philistine, who recently appeared in "Gypsy" with Bernadette Peters, especially shines with "My Husband is Playing Around" and "Golf's Such a Naughty Game."

Multiple Tony Award nominee Blum has way too much fun with "Big Bertha," while the smooth, melodic voice and the warm smile of Neal Mayer serve "The Beautiful Time" well.

And there's no news like golf news as delivered by Michigan native Christopher Sutton as GNN anchor Gordon Doublebogey.

Tying the evening together is Music Director/Pianist Rachel Kaufman who scores a double eagle for a job well done!

"Golf: The Musical" Presented Wednesday through Sunday at Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester, through Sept. 19. Tickets: $20 - $36. 248-377-3300. www.mbtheatre.com.

The Bottom Line: It's funny, it's hokey - and you don't have to like golf to enjoy it!