As a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a current season ticketholder to its football team, I am clearly in the bullseye for the target audience for a musical based on its legendary football coach, Knute Rockne. Something in the Game: An All-American Musical had its first outing ten years ago and was then titled Knute Rockne: All-American. The name change makes sense. This show is certainly about the famed, larger than life man. The bigger story involves his personal orbit (family, players, coaching highlights) and a growing college which at the time attracted unwelcome minorities, notably immigrants and Catholics.
Can a rags to riches story centered around football be successfully turned into a big musical? The answer is yes although the scoreboard might read field goal instead of touchdown. For Notre Dame fans the score might instead read touchdown with a missed extra point attempt.
The show begins as Knute is leaving South Bend for an opportunity to coach at Columbia University. Immediately we have family conflict as his wife was not consulted. Both Stef Tovar (Knute) and Dara Cameron (Bonnie) deliver heartfelt, strong characterizations. The story then tracks Knute from his arrival at Notre Dame where he meets his new roommate Gus Dorais (a period perfect Neal Davidson) who also plays football. The two worked together to create many memorable developments in their sport, notably popularizing the forward pass in a historic win over Army in 1913. There is a musical number incorporating this concept, “Completing the Forward Pass,” which is surprisingly effective storytelling and fun.
The football scenes are the winning part of the formula here. The team’s famous use of “The Shift” allows for some very creative scrimmage line inspired choreography. The Artistic Director for Northwestern’s American Music Theater Project David H. Bell directed and choreographed Something in the Game. The crop of young actors from the student body (and even some from their football team) added a real sense of athleticism to the show.
The superhero star of Notre Dame football and of this musical is George Gipp who played from 1917 until 1920. He became a legend, immortalized by Ronald Reagan in the 1940 film Knute Rockne: All American. Adrian Aguilar’s extraordinarily fine performance hints at why the show changed its name. The musical is at its best when this talented young man is overachieving on the field while sinning and gambling off the field. “Welcome to the Bottom” is a showstopper when things go wrong for George which he sings with the speakeasy’s owner and singer.
The focus on George Gipp, the Rockne family troubles, tensions with University clergy and a coach with massive self-promotion instincts make for a very full book. A few minor scenes should probably be reconsidered. The staging of Jimmy the Goat’s saloon felt inauthentic as well. A drinking, gambling hangout around the time of Prohibition in South Bend, Indiana would likely be a bit grittier than suggested by the smiling flapper tappers on display. (More like Chicago than Crazy for You.) Importantly, the score is strong with many memorable ballads and jazzy songs including Bonnie’s gorgeous “If There Had Been Roses,” Gipp’s “Confession,” and the title song. For the Notre Dame faithful, no need to fear. Our fight song makes a welcome appearance. Go Irish!