‘Pickleball’ serves up comedy, connection and character at Little Lake
Pickleball has taken the country by storm. What people may not realize, however, is that the sport has actually been around since the mid-1960s, originally created as a backyard game for families.
Its popularity is why Patrick Cannon, Little Lake Theatre’s artistic director, picked a play for this season with pickleball as its center. Titled simply “Pickleball,” the production starts Thursday and continues to June 14.
Tapping into the zeitgeist
Cannon describes the play as decidedly au courant, but says it goes beyond the sport itself.
“The title gets people in the door, but underneath it is a smart, human comedy about competition, loneliness and connection,” he said.
According to Cannon, the sport gives the play its structure, stakes and rhythm. “What really matters is what’s happening among the people on the court. It’s character-driven first.”
Striking the right balance between theatrical storytelling and physical believability was key. “If it looks fake, the audience checks out. If you try to replicate the sport too literally, it can slow the play down. It’s about suggesting the game without being trapped by it,” he said.
To that end, Cannon chose a cast capable of delivering both emotional depth and comedic timing. “Comedies like these live and die on timing and truth,” he said.
The play, he notes, will resonate with everyone, no prior knowledge of theatre or pickleball required. “The audience members who enjoy laughs will likely find the play not only funny, but also relatable. They’ll recognize the characters onstage, laugh and understand what makes our theatre special,” Cannon said, adding that in the end it’s a room full of people sharing something-and that still matters.
Playing Spike
For actor Darrin Mosely, who plays the character Spike, he wasn’t all that interested in auditioning for the role.
“That was until Patrick gave me the script. Once I read it, I loved the comedy and honesty,” he said.
Mosely’s background playing pickleball in college and graduate school gave him an initial edge, though he says it ultimately became irrelevant. “The paddles became extensions of our arms so much that it became unnatural to be without them,” he said.
Mosely is quite confident that people will see themselves – or someone they know – reflected onstage. “Especially those who have played intramural sports,” he said.
There’s the quiet observer, the outsider trying to fit in, the aging athlete in denial, the couple working things out…on the court.
Spike, he explains, is one of the stronger players, yet far from easygoing. “He is passive aggressive and people easily get under his skin. Part of that is due to the fact that his partner Sheldon can’t move around as much as some of the other players due to being on the older side,” said Mosely.
The takeaway
At its core, Pickleball is more than a sport. It’s about connection-those unexpected bonds that form in shared spaces.
Mosely’s hope is that audience members will walk away with a renewed appreciation for community and the idea of a “found family” -people whom they may not have otherwise met if not for the sport.
Cannon agrees.
“Laughter is first and foremost, but there’s also that quiet recognition where people see a piece of their own life on stage,” he said. “If audiences leave talking about the characters instead of just the jokes, we’ll have done our job,” he said.