ON STAGE
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Keoki Kerr as "Joe Hardy," Elizabeth Harrison as "Lola" and Larry Bialock as "Applegate the Devil" star in Army Community Theatre's "Damn Yankees."
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Playing the devil with glee
Larry Bialock comes well prepared to play the Devil in the Army Community Theatre's production of "Damn Yankees."
'Damn Yankees'
Presented by Army Community Theatre
» Place: Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter
» Time: Opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; continues 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 27
» Tickets: $15 to $20 adults; $12 to $15 children.
» Call: 438-4480 or online at squareone.org/ACT
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Bialock played the part, aka Mr. Applegate, when Diamond Head Theatre staged the vintage Broadway classic in 1998. He'd been looking forward to a second chance.
"I loved playing that part a lot back then," Bialock said.
"The Devil is an evil character, let's face it. He wants to cause misery throughout the world. He wants people to be bad, but since this is a musical comedy he is also this great, wonderful character who is also very funny and (who) has a great song, "The Good Old Days," and I love the character. It's fun to play funny evil characters. It really is. I have a great time with it."
The biggest difference this time is that the device used to create the illusion of fire coming out of Applegate's hand is much smaller than the "contraption" he used in 1998.
As for getting into character, Bialock says he's more experienced now and more secure in the part. "I'm more relaxed and I'm having a great time with it."
The Devil detects a soul at risk when he comes across Joe Boyd, a middle-aged baseball fan who can't stand the thought of watching his beloved Washington Senators suffer through another losing season while the New York Yankees win game after game. A deal is made, and Applegate turns Boyd into a super athlete who quickly becomes the talk of the major league.
Elizabeth "Bit" Harrison plays Lola, Applegate's seductive assistant. KITV reporter Keoki Kerr stars as the mysterious rookie, "Shoeless Joe" Hardy, who comes out of nowhere to make the Senators the hottest team in baseball.
Bialock has put his mark on local theater since 1998. He gave a show-stopping performance as Amos Hart, the hapless cuckolded husband, in DHT's 2002 production of "Chicago," was one of the comic gangsters in ACT's recent revival of "Kiss Me Kate," and did an outstanding job as conniving Seabee Luther Billis in "South Pacific" at Paliku Theatre last year.
The Seattle native came to Hawaii by way of 15 years working in the Big Apple.
He had credits on both coasts when he arrived, but says he's found more opportunities here.
"I couldn't get an agent in New York (but) I got an agent the first week I was here. I've been seen for movies and TV (work) that I would never have gotten in New York without an agent, and I've had roles here that I might not have gotten there, so Hawaii has really been kind of a blessing for me."