Read the full article by Ally Heatherly at Sacramento News & Review
Jeff Daniels’ “Pickleball” is not just a comedy, it’s a masterful blend of humor, absurdity and heart that delivers a unique and memorable theatrical experience. Put on by B Street Theatre, the production is a grand slam of creativity, serving up a craft cocktail of laughter and insight with every scene.
Set in the unassuming confines of a community center in a nameless town, “Pickleball” delves into the world of the fastest-growing sport in America. Here, a diverse group of players — each donning outfits seemingly plucked from a sporting goods store’s clearance section — brings the game to life.
We meet Spike (Jason Kuykendall), a freshly divorced enthusiast with a passion for the game that borders on obsession; Larry (John Lamb), an earnest but bumbling would-be ladies’ man; Billie (Amy Kelly), a vibrant former tennis player with a poignant backstory and a zest for life ; and Sheldon (Greg Alexander), a perennially injured hobby player who’s more interested in the snacks than the sport.
Beneath these caricatures lies a rich tapestry of human experience, skillfully unraveled by Daniels’ script and the players’ skilled performances.