The Trade: A Tragedy in Four Quarters
My thoughts on The Trade or…Doncic departs, chaos starts.
I was hesitant about attending The Trade: A Tragedy in Four Quarters by Matt Lyle and Matt Coleman, considering my knowledge of professional sports could fit in a thimble. However, within minutes after this hybrid of a Greek tragedy and a howlingly funny comedy began, I was caught up in the spirit of the evening as Theatre Three became a stadium filled with Dallas Mavericks fans.
This play, briskly directed by co-author Matt Lyle, will amuse even if you’ve never seen a basketball game. There is so much here that entertains, from the Greek Chorus (Chad Cline, Davian Jackson, Jeff Swearingen, and Elizabeth Evans) and their leader (Brian Gonzales) to the berated, exasperated, and insult-inundated Dallas Mavericks Manager, Nico Harrison (Quintin Jones Jr) to the audience participation, the comedy is almost non-stop in this clever retelling of Harrison’s trading of fan favorite Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers for Anthony Davis earlier this year.
The audience is seated center court, with a Jumbotron at one end of the arena, part of a set designed by Jeffrey Schmidt, who also handled the projections. At the other end is a giant Luka basketball goal. The lighting is crafted by Amanda West, sound by Noah Heller, and costumes by Jessie Wallace. Choreographer Austin Ray Beck keeps it all moving. The impressive scale of the design fully draws us into the story. Whether you're in the front row or the back of the bleachers, you're part of the show. There's no avoiding the kiss cam or the characters mingling with the audience.
In Lyle and Coleman’s script, Dallas becomes the equivalent of Thebes, with a population weeping and wailing over the trading of Luka. The players, both on and off the court, are all here. Members of the Greek Chorus skillfully morph into the individuals involved. Brian Gonzales becomes a black leather-clad Rob Pelinka of the Lakers, who seems to be in a bromance with Harrison. Jeff Swearingen is the frenetic billionaire Mark Cuban, and Chad Cline is the beloved beer-drinking Slovenian Luka Doncic, who does not want to leave the Mavericks. Davian Jackson and Elizabeth Evans are hilarious characters, proud vendors of beer and peanuts at Maverick games, until the shame of the trade strikes them. Jackson also becomes an angelic Kobe Bryant, while Evans is a very pregnant Anthony Davis.
Quintin Jones Jr. is phenomenal as Nico Harrison. His portrayal of Harrison is both lovable and detestable, striking a perfect balance. While most of his lines are comedic, which Jones delivers flawlessly, it’s his moments of desperation that truly stand out. Near the end of the play, there’s an almost Shakespearean soliloquy that Jones performs with incredible power. It is a truly stunning moment of theater.
Lyle and Coleman’s script is packed with surprises, including a hysterical spin on an Alanis Morissette classic. Be prepared. You’re going to laugh, and you’re going to cheer as Theatre Three’s The Trade is a theatrical midcourt three-pointer and a slam dunk of a comedy.
Photos by Jeffrey Schmidt
