Muddled ‘Pitcher’ Is in a Serious Slump

Oscar Valdes’ “Castro and the Pitcher,” at the Court Theatre, attempts to meld “Evita” and “Damn Yankees” into an hallucinogenic Cuban dream. But this nightmare is more likely to have Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos spinning in their graves and Fidel Castro calling a lawyer to sue for slander.

Although the press material calls this a play with song, it’s closer to the truth to say lyricist Valdes and composer Olga Diaz have strung together notes and words, neither of which proves memorable. Some actually make the viewing of this muddle more painful.

As Castro, Valdes doesn’t emote anything but befuddlement, and his singing doesn’t quite reach the level of adequate. The three Spandex-clad prostitutes (Teresa Corchete, Anna Lluch and Jasmin Solorzano) supposedly represent the poverty resulting from Castro’s brand of communism, but they seem more like an old man’s sex fantasy than a well-integrated part of a play.

Valdes’ Castro is preoccupied with the past. He sees and hears the voices of his deceased compatriots, Che Guevara (Mauricio Mendoza) and Camilo Cienfuegos (Alejandro De Hoyos). He receives cake from his former lover, Sarita (Eliana Alexander), and their love reignites as their love child (Lee Kirk), passed off as the offspring of her dead husband, becomes a first-rate pitcher.

Director Raoul Rizik seems helpless to bring energy or even sexual heat to this messy musical. It may be time for a new musical about baseball, but this isn’t it.

*

* “Castro and the Pitcher,” Court Theatre, Hollywood United Methodist Church, Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Ends July 25. $15-$20. (323) 993-8505. Running time: 2 hours.