Toni Stone

See it if You’d like to see a show that is interesting and told in an unusual way although it needs some serious editing to make it a stronger story.

Don't see it if You can’t sit through a lot of sidetrack storylines that don’t get flushed out while on your way to the main story.

Also Interesting story. Desperately needs editing or a good rewrite.

See it if u want to see Matthis in a solid at-bat as the 1st female Negro Leaguer in an illuminating (if dry) lesson in racism, sexism & baseball.

Don't see it if ur hoping for a compelling, electric theatrical event worthy of the intriguing subject; u prefer action to exposition.

Also Like a low-scoring baseball game with too many extra innings, you're still rooting for the home team and you stick it out to end in hopes of witnessing a home run... but your interest flags before you even get to the seventh inning stretch and all you get in the end is a mildly satisfying win in a no-hitter with a sacrifice fly.... Read more Read less

See it if you are willing to sit through a lot of aimless storytelling for some thrilling group movement & 1 chilling “production number.”

Don't see it if you are looking for the story of Negro League baseball.

Also “Toni Stone” feels like an old-fashioned biopic, with the scenes played out of order & onstage. Its subject is the sole woman to play Negro League baseball. The sleek set recreates a stylized mini-stadium: banks of lights high above stage-level metal bleachers, smart, but under-used. The best part of the show is the ensemble of 8 black men plus Toni, the team, but also all the characters from Toni’s life, across race & gender—a group tour-de-force. What we learn about the appealingly direct central character isn’t so profound or interesting. But when the drone of often inconsequential narrative thins & the splendidly physical team is on the move the play flies. And Act one’s closing number, a highlight of the season, a brave expose of the dark heart of the unspoken contract between black entertainer & white spectator, is at once thrilling, entertaining, profound & disheartening. To have more fully probed the issues this number raises would have been a deeply important project.... Read more Read less

See it if captures rhythms of baseball team thru offbeat kinetic choreography; poetic tribute 2 playing baseball; A Matthis' fine perf humanizes Toni

Don't see it if by 2nd Act show starts 2 run out of steam; sexist confrontations w teammates predictable; upbeat ending contrived

See it if April Matthis stars and she is very good as are the 8 other actors.

Don't see it if If you have no interest in baseball or its history. Very simple set (bleachers).

Also seen July 25, 2019

See it if You’re interested in a very moving yet very funny play with a great cast

Don't see it if Can’t think of a reason.

See it if You are interested in learning more about the first female professional baseball player

Don't see it if You are expecting this play to focus on the critical parts of Toni stones baseball career

Also This was a very frustrating one for me because I have a lot of knowledge of the game of baseball. I was very excited to see it. The first act was excruciating. The second act was much better because they focused more on the actual game of baseball. I don’t like when actors play multiple roles. Especially when men are playing women for comedy purposes. I don’t know why they tried to make this play funny but they did and they used a really really cheap comedy. I realize you can’t just make a play about a female baseball player and make it only about baseball we do need to learn more about her but 80% of the scenes that didn’t involve baseball were boring and not needed... Read more Read less

See it if you possibly can.This is 1 of my favorite shows this season.Cast is 100% solid.Staging is clever but not obtrusive.Story is funny/touching.

Don't see it if you want a big musical.This show has a lot to say and says it in an entertaining, way.Drew me in from the first second.Mattis is brilliant.

See it if historical bio-drama based on first female pro baseball player in Negro Leagues, much of it told by character directly addressing audience

Don't see it if don't want issues of racism, sexism. Play needs editing - many excellent parts but some segments miss

Also Great segment of how they ballplayers in Jim Crow era had to act as if in minstrel shows.
Great April Matthis as Toni Stone.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a great performance by a very talented cast and get some history. You want to laugh and be thoroughly entertained.

Don't see it if You are not interested in a bit of history about the first woman professional baseball player. You don't want to laugh and see a great play.

Also Totally immersed in this play. I learned something very interesting and could not wait to share it with friends. The performers did an excellent job. I enjoyed this play immensely. If you can, please go and see this play. It will not disappoint.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to learn about Black woman baseball player. True story.

Don't see it if You want a fast paced show. This is repetitious. Although big cast feels like one person play with monologues

See it if well acted story of a forgotten person from history. staged well.

Don't see it if aside from main character the rest are just background. too long, 30 minutes could be cut.

See it if you are looking for a play whose history has a 21st century historical relevance

Don't see it if pulling back the curtain on a almost forgotten story is just not your cup of tea.

Also I loved the historical value of the play, but either the direction of the lead actress to play the character the way she did or the actress herself's decision to play the character the way she did or maybe the way the character was written and thus portrayed made me uneasy. Still the story was an interesting one.... Read more Read less

See it if Unique play highlighting the career of Toni Stone while focusing on racial,sexual, and political issues of the times. Matthis and cast excel

Don't see it if You are disinterested in a baseball themed play,but it is much more than a "sports story."

See it if you want an introduction to a woman who broke down gender barriers for an extended time. A must see show.

Don't see it if you want polished writing that identifies and sticks to what should be its main topic.

Also Lydia R. Diamond's play gets much too caught up in the racism that Stone and her Negro League teammates faced. The story should have concentrated on the misogyny and scorn that Stone had to face from people of all races and sexes.

More attention should also be paid to the gender identity problem that Diamond introduces but then brushes off.

The use of symbolic "whiteface" to identify some of the white characters is unnecessary as other white characters are easily identified as such while played perfectly by black men. This is far different from the intelligent use of white face in The Great Novel.

The great missing piece in this narrative is Stone's time playing for the Monarchs and replacing a guy we might have heard about - Hank Aaron.

By far not a great play, but an important piece of American gender history that needs to be seen by anyone concerned with the suppression of women.... Read more Read less

See it if April Matthis is incredible. You're interested in a wonderfully discursive bio-piece about a little known pioneer in American sports.

Don't see it if You don't like obscure histories, strong language (there's a lot of it: profane/obscene/racist), or non-linear storytelling.

Also Matthis should win an award for this show. She is pitch-perfect and carries the show (and most of the dialogue). The whole cast was good.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of baseball, American history, the African American experience, great ensemble acting, or creative casting and staging.

Don't see it if No reason not see see this worthy play and these fine performances.

See it if Subject matter is interesting.Story-telling is not spoon-fed.Some resonant moments,with cross-section of sport, self/gender/racial identity.

Don't see it if Can get long in the tooth.

See it if THIS PRODUCTION WAS SO GOOD! I went in expecting a somewhat run of the mill historical drama and was completely caught off guard by how...

Don't see it if captivating and relevant the show was. Run to the Roundabout to see this. Seriously...it's phenomenal.

See it if U enjoy baseball & excellent acting;are interested in learning about the 1st woman to play professional baseball in the Negro League.

Don't see it if U dislike historical or biographical plays, prefer plays w/ more action.There was a bit too much "telling" rather than "showing."

See it if You’d like to know about historical figures who don’t get talked about. It could’ve went without an intermission, but, it was a well-acted

Don't see it if Well-produced piece of theatre. There’s strong language, including the “N-word”, of course, some sexual gestures, and possible anti-LGBT

Also Sentiments, however, we have to be mindful that this is a period piece. Kudos all around. Some drama, some humor, and baseball, of course. It also provides reprieve from the oppressive heat outside!... Read more Read less

See it if Most interesting when baseball is merely the framework of telling the individual story of Toni Stone - very good cast across the board

Don't see it if Enough baseball that if you are totally ignorant then there may be stretches that you might not care

See it if You want a story about women in baseball. And a lesson about racism and relations in the 50s. Great acting must see.

Don't see it if You do not like biopics. You do not like stories about oppression and racism.

See it if you want to see a dynamic actress portraying a fascinating woman you probably never heard of

Don't see it if you have absolutely no interest in a play about the first woman to play baseball in a Negro league

See it if you're a baseball fan interested in a good historical show about how race and sex affected the early days of professional (Negro) baseball

Don't see it if you're not interested in baseball, specifically the part race and gender played in early baseball

Also Well-acted by all, especially the lead. It was a good story about one of the forgotten pioneers of baseball, although a bit long.... Read more Read less