'Pickleball' launches Hillbarn's 86th season

 

From left: Sheldon (Chris Reber). Spike (Will Livingston), Larry (Erin Gould) and Billie (Rebecca Schweitzer) exchange words before playing. (Tracy Martin photo)

Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory is opening its 86^th season with Jeff Daniels’ “Pickleball,” inspired by the sport that’s growing in popularity.

For example, when Hillbarn artistic director Stephen Muterspaugh spoke to the sold-out audience at Aug. 22’s opening night, he asked how many people were there for the first time. Dozens raised their hands.

When he then asked how many people there played pickleball, almost as many raised their hands. One can only assume that the play’s title brought them there.

Despite its popularity, pickleball has caused controversy. Tennis players don’t like yielding court space and time to it. Neighbors complain about the noise caused by plastic balls propelled by paddles.

The noise aspect opens the play as an offstage woman complains about it, saying she’s trying to get her toddler to bed.

However, neither controversy is explored any farther.

Instead, four of its principal players enter the court with their paddles, ready to play.

Well, one of the friends isn’t playing. Sheldon (Chris Reber) hurt his back in a game and can barely walk.

The other three are Spike (Will Livingston), Sheldon’s pickleball partner; and pickleball partners Larry (Erin Gould) and Billie (Rebecca Schweitzer).

Larry is the kind of man who, when meeting a woman, asks if she’s single. Billie is mourning the death of her wife.

They’re occasionally joined by the strutting, enigmatic Perfect (Imri M. Tate), who runs a business aimed at improving players’ skills.

Even though pickleball is meant to be fun, at least in this play it can also be deadly, as alluded to by some of the characters.

As directed by Marissa Keltie, this production sports fine acting by everyone along with noteworthy designs: the set by Muterspaugh, lighting by Pamila Gray, costumes by Lisa Claybaugh and sound by Jeff Mockus.

The credits don’t mention a choreographer or movement director, but there are some stylized movement and dancing. The latter is set to a rap routine, which comes soon after the actors inexplicably burst into the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.”

Nor is there any actual pickleball playing.

And while there is a lot of dialogue, the play doesn’t seem to have plot or through-line per se. Thus one is left to wonder what impression the first-time Hillbarn audience members/pickleball players might get.

Running about 80 minutes without intermission, “Pickleball” will continue through Sept. 13 at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.

For tickets and information, call (650) 349-6411 or visit www.hillbarntheatre.org.