Lombardi On Broadway – “The Most Imperfect Perfect Man”

A chance came up for me to review Lombardi On Broadway. When I am about to review a show, I never do too much reading up on it. My thinking is that I don’t want other reviews or people’s feedback to skew my opinion or experience. So I normally go to a lot of these shows completely oblivious, maybe with some knowledge here and there, but in general clueless.

Lombardi was a complete mystery because as someone who doesn’t follow football, I didn’t even really know who Lombardi was.

I asked my husband to join me as a guest and what came to be was a complete coincidence and surprise.

Most of you, if not all of you, probably know that Lombardi, Vince Lombardi to be exact, was the head coach for the Green Bay Packers from 1959 to 1967. During his leadership the Green Bay Packers became the most dominant NFL team in history, having won five league championships in seven years, including two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967.

I realize that the show I was about to watch was a bit more than just another Broadway show from the moment I walked into the theater. The Circle in The Square, where the production is taking place, has been transformed into a museum-like installation featuring Vince Lombardi and Green Bay Packer memorabilia. Photographs chronicling Coach Lombardi’s personal and professional life, quotations, as well as collectibles from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, were all on display. On that evening most of the theatergoers consisted of fans of football, but also of Lombardi himself. I could tell this by the conversations in the lobby, by the Packers shirts some wore, and also by the pride with which some older theatergoers spoke of the items on display.

My husband, being from WI, and having gone to Undergrad in Green Bay knew all about Lombardi, his legacy and how he affected the community as well as the team. My husband is not a huge football fan per say, but he knew enough to explain to me why Lombardi was a big deal. Despite all of this, I walked into the performance happy that I had brought him as he would appreciate what I thought would surely be a play about football. But I was wrong.

Lombardi is played by Dan Lauria, his wife Marie Lombardi is played by Judith Light. The story is narrated by and comes from the point of view of, reporter Michael McCormick played by Keith Nobbs. The play is based off of author, and Pulitzer prize winner, David Maraniss’ When Pride Still Mattered-The Life of Vince Lombardi.

Directed by Thomas Kail, whom I’ve met and interviewed for my review of Broke-ology (and also known for In The Heights), the production was nothing what I expected.

It was powerful and moving. Funny and inspirational. Profound in a way that touched me and made me understand that this wasn’t about football at all, but about the character of one man, and how this was enough to change and cause to inspire others.

Lauria was Lombardi in every way, at least from what I have since read Lombardi to be. My husband said that his voice and powerful persona on stage was almost identical to who Lombardi was in public. Mr. Lauria captivated me and caused me to feel compassion for a man who was an absolute stranger to me until this very moment.

But Ms. Light’s performance was equally convincing, I couldn’t help but love her and think how much I would have loved to have met the strong, feisty woman portrayed as Marie Lombardi. Her character also resonated with me because she reminded me of what I felt like during my years living in Madison, WI. The role of a wife supporting her husband’s passion and career, the homesickness of all things New York (though I will admit, I wasn’t as isolated in Madison, WI as she seemed to be during her years in Green Bay).

Nobbs was flawless in his dual role as narrator and actor, sewing together pieces of facts, history and the liberties taken in the screenplay (written by Eric Simonson). Without missing a beat he brought us into the story and helped us better understand not only the man Lombardi was, but the great woman who stood by him and the many players he called his family (these were played by Paul Hornung, Javen Johnson, and Jim Taylor).

I walked out of the theater full of curiosity to learn more about Lombardi and “getting it” when I saw fans – many of whom were probably even alive during his time – as they stopped and payed their respects to the images of the man and the legacy he left behind.

Whether you like football or not, are a Packers fan, or not, you will enjoy the production of Lombardi On Broadway. The stage at The Circle in The Square is minimalist and the focus is so much on the acting, which on this night was truly awe-inspiring.

But if you are a fan, and Lombardi means a lot more to you then most, this is an amazing tribute to what I have since learned was a truly incredible human-being.

Lombardi on Broadway is running now at Circle in The Square Theater, located at 50th Street, West of Broadway. For tickets visit the site at www.LombardiOnBroadway.com.

Disclosure: Complimentary tickets to this show were provided for review purposes. We received no other compensation and no requirements that we express a particular point of view.

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