Lombardi: A Study in Sports and Relationships | B+

Lombardi explores more than just football. Eric Simonson's play is based on the biography When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi. It depicts a week during the 1965 football season for the Lombardi family and the Green Bay Packers, through the eyes of the young journalist, Michael McCormick (Keith Nobbs, The Black Donnellys).

Between the talks of game plays and overwhelming amounts of sports statistics rattled off by the characters, the various struggles of the Lombardis can be seen, ranging from Vince (Dan Lauria, The Wonder Years) fretting over his players, to Marie (Judith Light, One Life to Live) trying to balance her frustration with the amount of time her husband spends at work.

Light does a fantastic job as Marie. From one of her first lines, "We interrupt this marriage to bring you this specially scheduled football season," to the wry comments she makes about her husband's job, she gives insight. Under her sarcasm, however, there is also an honest depiction of the impact the move to Green Bay has had on her life as she reminisces how homesick she was during the first few years of Lombardi's career as head coach.

As Vince Lombardi, Lauria is full of energy that even a 5-year-old on a sugar rush would envy. He prowls and jumps around the stage, shouting at his players as well as McCormick, to strive for their best. At points, he is so determined to have perfection surround him that it feels like he will start yelling at audience members to sit up straight. Throughout the play, Lauria exhibits the passion Lombardi is known for — he gets the role of a crazy football coach.

Vincent Lombardi's relationship with his wife is not the only one explored. In addition to spending time interviewing Marie, McCormick interacts with several team members, and learns about their experiences with their coach. All of the players (Bill Dawes, Dave Robinson and Chris Sullivan) do an excellent job depicting how Vince Lombardi influenced them as a team both on and off the field.

Lombardi is an engaging story with memorable characters that are portrayed beautifully. The show works very well as a sports program, and it also works as an exploration of the Lombardis' marriage. It deserves credit just as much for exploring its characters as it does for its talk about football. Do not go into the show only expecting talk about football — go in expecting a look at the lives that are affected by football.