Theater Review: Love All

 

La Jolla Playhouse's "Love All" 

Tennis star Billie Jean King came to tennis via basketball and softball, taking up tennis in 1954 at age 11 when her parents suggested it as a “more ladylike” sport.

A tireless competitor, she became a champion, retiring with a record 20 Wimbledon titles and a total of 39 Grand Slam titles. In between, she crusaded for women’s rights in tennis, her testimony before the U.S. Senate helping to pass the Title IX act guaranteeing girls equal access to sports education in public schools.

Now, La Jolla Playhouse gives us Anna Deveare Smith's “Love All,” with a fascinating first act showing King’s determination and rise in the field, followed by a less interesting second act that needs improvement.

As a 14-year-old novice Billie Jean Moffitt, she was already convinced that she’d be the best player in the world, and we see her competing with the other great players including Althea Gibson (played wonderfully by Rebecca S’Manga Frank, who even looks like Gibson) and Allison Spratt Pearce as Australian tennis star Margaret Court. Gibson quit professional tennis in the late 1950s because of the lack of tournament opportunities and prize money.

As a player, she was also a tireless campaigner for women’s rights in the field (for example, equal prize money). She was instrumental in persuading cigarette brand Virginia Slims to sponsor women’s tennis and went on to serve on their parent board Philip Morris in the 2000s. In 2020, the Federation Cup was named the Billie Jean King Cup in her honor.

Billie Jean’s story plays out against the backdrop of national events including the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King, Jr, the Watts riots and Muhammad Ali’s refusal to fight in Vietnam.

Early on, attorney Larry King (played sympathetically by John Kroft) became her manager (and husband) but they later split due to marital infidelities. 

Chilina Kennedy’s King is a wonder of self-confidence and energy, a crusader who always told the truth to the press and anyone else who asked. It’s a joy to watch her dedication to the sport.

Bianca Amato is excellent as both Alice Marble, Billie Jean’s chain-smoking coach, and Ilana Kloss, who became King’s wife and partner.

Justin Withers plays Arthur Ashe, the black star who refused to support King’s campaign for equal pay for women players. 

This is a big production (two hours, 30 minutes), played out on Robert Brill’s fine set design of a tennis arena, and includes projections by S. Katy Tucker. The period costumes are by Ann Hould-Ward; the lighting by Jiyoun Chang, and sound by Darron L. West.

The first act is all about tennis, and quite a fascinating watch. But the second act is confusing and often flat, and its function unclear. The actors speak as themselves, reminding the audience of King’s accomplishments. It meanders a  lot and needs work.

The details

“Love All” plays through July 2 at La Jolla Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Theatre,  2910 La Jolla Village Drive in La Jolla.

Shows Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.

Tickets: boxoffice@ljp.org or (858) 550-1010