First Run Theatre Archive Photos The Last Memory of an Ol' Brownie Fan

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The Last Memorie of an Ol' Brownie Fan
A two-act play by Bill Borst

September 25 - October 3 2009
Directed by Jim Meady
Original Music by Brad Slavik

It's the summer of 1979, some where in South St. Louis, and an old man is helping his granddaughter with a school project. Despite his increasing forgetfulness, he dictates the events of his life on a tape recorder. As he talks, he can’t help intertwining his life memories with those his favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Browns. His life’s ups and downs mirror the record and adventures of this one time St. Louis team. This one-man play is a tour de force for a single actor, as it deals with life, aging, baseball, being a die-hard fan of a losing team, and the loss precious memories.

“It is part history lesson and part character study. Of course, it's also about St. Louis baseball. Not Redbird baseball this time. No, The Last Memory of an Ol' Brownie Fan is about brown baseball. To be more plural, it is about St. Louis Browns baseball. This one-man play by local writer Bill Borst attempts to relive some of the ups and downs of those perennial underdogs of Sportsman's Park. … Over all, I think First Run's production of 'The Last Memory of an Ol' Brownie Fan' is a nice trip down memory lane for those who remember the team.” – Robert Strasser KDHX

CAST

THE BROWNIE FAN

Charly Kelly

Charly Kelly is the Brownie Fan whom his daughter has asked to tell the story of his life to a tape recorder for a school project. In doing so he relates the history of his favorite baseball team the St. Louis Browns.

"Yes sir, the Brownies played a man who only had one arm. His name was Gray, Pete Gray and he was a delight to watch. He could really play."

The Brownie Fan at his favorite past time.

"Baseball was so bad in the 40s that even the Browns could win a pennant. Now that really tanned my sideburns." As the Brownie Fan relates the 1944 season.

" So you know what I want my last memory to be? I want to be thinking about Jimmy Dyck’s laaaa-zzzzy fly ball to centerfield…where the center fielder Rivera hauls it in…like it was just another day at the beach. That has to be it! That will be my last memory because in a lota ways, it WAS my “last memory!”