Arthur’s latest swings into Latimer-Schaeffer
Famous artist draws inspiration from New York Mets star’s ‘Sweetest Swing’
By Jacqueline Quattrocchi, contributing writer
Posted on October 2, 2006

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be famous and have people stop you on the sidewalk to request your autograph? Everyone dreams of the seemingly luxurious life of fame, but what most of us don’t realize is the immense pressure that comes from being in the spotlight 24/7.

To help put the concept into perspective, JMU professor of theatre Tom Arthur has decided to re-enact playwright Rebecca Gilman’s “The Sweetest Swing in Baseball.” Gilman has written several plays, including “Spinning in the Butter,” which won Best Play of A New Playwright and is currently being made into a movie.

“Gilman isn’t your standard cup of tea,” Arthur said. “You never know what to expect with her. She’s provocative and doesn’t mind raising issues, believing that the theater is the appropriate place to raise questions that will force people to think about the way they live.”

“The Sweetest Swing in Baseball” tells the story of popular artist Dana Fielding, played by JMU senior Megan Tusiant. Fielding, who has trouble handling the pressure of the spotlight, ends up in a psychiatric ward after she tries to commit suicide when the attention gets to be too much. While in the ward, Fielding soon claims the identity of former New York Mets baseball star Darryl Strawberry. She does this mostly to convince her doctors she has a multiple-personality disorder so her insurance will pay for her hospital stay. “The Sweetest Swing in Baseball” is fascinating and raises questions about how we measure victory and failure, especially in celebrities. Gilman is not the type of playwright to give you quick answers, but she takes an in-depth look of how we build stars up to unattainable levels and then revel in their fall.

Don’t let the title scare you off. If your knowledge about baseball is lacking, have no fear. Everything Fielding learns about America’s favorite pastime she learns through conversations with other characters. While she learns, so does the audience. Arthur said he chose “The Sweetest Swing in Baseball” because he wants people to think about the way society puts people on pedestals and how those individuals handle that pressure.

The play will run from Tuesday, Oct. 3 to Oct. 7 in Latimer-Shaeffer Theatre. The show begins at 8 p.m., and admission is $8, or $6 with a JAC Card. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or through the Masterpiece Season Box Office at x87000.