TOMMY & ME- A REVIEW

I saw Ray Didinger's play, Tommy & Me, yesterday afternoon at the Fringe Theater in Philly.

It was a  wonderful experience.I am a big Eagles and Philadelphia sports fan, so I ate it up. I went with 3 other people who could care less about football. Yet they loved every minute of it.That's a tremendous compliment to the story.

That's the thing about Tommy & Me- it really isn't about football. It's about friendship and a special relationship between Ray and Hall of Fame wide receiver Tommy MacDonald..

It had just enough football in it to keep the die-hard in me interested. It was interesting to note the crowd there who attended the show. The Fringe Theater is small and maybe fits about 100 people or so. Most were old timers like myself or even older, many wearing Eagles jerseys, caps or shirts.

Tommy & Me brought back a lot of memories, especially of Franklin Field and the glory days of the Eagles. It  refreshes happy memories of days gone by for the hard-core Eagle vets, but it also  is an eye-opener for new fans, reminding everyone just how great Tommy MacDonald really was.

It is funny, too, more so than what I expected. There are only four actors- a guy playing Ray, a young kid ( the director, Joe Canuso's grandson), Tommy and a young Tommy, and all were excellent. They had been in the same play last year, and it showed. A big part of the play is about how the characters interact, and I could tell these actors were tight together and liked each other and seemed comfortable.

The play runs a little over an hour, but it goes fast, and you kind of wish for more, but it truly satisfies in the end. Those four actors and the limited space and sets really did make you feel like you were at Hershey training camp, or in Ray's office, or in Tommy's living room, or, finally, at the football Hall of Fame.

The videos of game action, and especially of Tommy's real induction into the Hall were used very effectively. Without the videos, the play and the story would not have been as good or hit home.

The climax is emotional yet doesn't get too sentimental or schmaltzy. It touches your heart, football fan or not, and that's the point.

I would say go see Tommy& Me if you haven't yet, but the finale is next Sunday. I believe all  remaining performances are sold-out, with maybe a few tickets remaining for Thursday's show.

Trust me, you won't be disappointed.


After the play, the actors, Ray and Joe sat down for a 30-minute Q & A session with the audience. I liked that, as the actors were so close in proximity to the audience during the play, then interacted with the people afterwards too, bot in the Q & A and after the show.

All are great people, especially Ray himself, who took time with everyone, was gracious signing autographs, taking pictures, or just reminiscing with fans.

Joe, the director, is a special friend and a marvelous talent.

All in all, I couldn't ask more from Tommy & Me. Where does it go from here? Hard to say. It's a Philadelphia play, one which Philly sorts fans can best relate to, so I don't how it would play outside of the city.. It may be destined to be just that- a special Philadelphia treasure.

Or, it may be worthy of the silver screen? If so, I hope it keeps the magic 9 like "Field of Dreams") of characters interacting, where time knows no bounds. The best sports-related movies are like that ( such as "The Natural")- part sports but part magic too.

That sums up Tommy & Me- pure magic!