By John Lyle Belden

“That Championship Season” is not an easy play to watch. It is, however, a powerful drama you should see. A quick internet search revealing the names of actors in the Off-Broadway, Broadway and film productions of this 1973 Pulitzer Prize winner by Jason Miller reveals this is one of those meaty Glengarry-Death-of-a-Godot plays men trip over one another to audition for.

Main Street Productions of Westfield has stepped up to that challenge, bravely directed by Lori Raffel. Set in 1977, we meet the coach and members of the 1952 Fillmore High School basketball team from Scranton, Pennsylvania, which, as underdogs, won the State Championship on a last-second shot. (Some Hoosiers can relate.)

George Sikowski (Earl Campbell), former insurance salesman and current Mayor, is on hand at first with the youngest teammate, Tom Daley (Adrian Scott Blackwell) who at 40 is regarded by the group as a sort of drunken prodigal son. Soon to arrive are Phil Romano (Ken Kingshill), who has made a fortune in strip-mining coal; Tom’s brother James (Mark Kamish), a junior high principal, father of five, and George’s reelection campaign manager; and their Coach (Jim Simmons), who may not live long enough to make their next reunion.

It is telling that the team member who made that final shot, “magic” Martin, is missing, and has never attended a reunion.

The approximately hour-and-a-half of manly conversations weave a bit of nostalgia with a lot of discussions of George’s reelection challenge by a popular Jewish man, and how low-key antisemitism can’t be counted on to affect the results. Mr. Charmin has progressive ideas – some of which clash with Phil’s interests – and Mayor Sikowski is partly known for a zoo opening that resulted in dead elephant. Oh, and Phil slept with George’s wife.

While a solid stream of dark humor runs through the drama, it is also noteworthy for the “locker-room talk” used throughout. Raffel and the cast pull no verbal punches here, as what we hear is likely tame compared to how men in this time, place, and situation regularly spoke (and to a degree still do; fellow Veterans could attest). This was before “political correctness” entered the culture, so in addition to sexual and scatological terms, there is no restraint on the “N” word and similar slurs. After all, the “Pollack” and “Wop” in the room don’t seem to mind too much.

But look beneath the rough language and we see that the men Coach thought he had forged are still just boys in need of game plans, reliant on his guidance – flawed as he also is. Simmons in his portrayal reflects every elder you ever adored, but wondered later if that was a good thing. His is a principled bigotry, the kind often waved off as a product of his times, but still shaded with barely acknowledged hate.

Campbell channels the consummate politician, with good intentions, the desire for legacy, and solid principles as long as the check clears. Kamish as put-upon James desperately realizes that at 44 his clock is ticking on becoming a Big Success; his confidence is thinner than even he realizes. Kingshill plays Romano with a demeanor suggesting relation to certain other Italians in the region, but he stays true to the “family” his championship team provides. Tom’s plight is also reflective of the time, his supposed friends pouring him more drinks as they remark how he can’t hold his liquor; Blackwell provides the pathos and humor as each moment requires.

Hopefully you get the idea of the kind of intense drama and insight into damaged manhood this play provides. On that score, this production of “That Championship Season” is a winner. Remaining performances are Thursday through Sunday, April 11-14, at the Basile Westfield Playhouse, 220 N. Union St. Get tickets and info at westfieldplayhouse.org.