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October 7

By Chas Vrba, actor & playwright of 1985

I’m a fan of coincidence.  Life presents random sequences of events that we try to assign meaning to when the occurrences don’t seem so random.

As we’ve been knee deep in the rehearsal process, it took me a little while to realize that our Opening Night, October 7, falls on the 26th Anniversary of what was probably one of the most unusual days I’ve experienced as a Chicago sports fan.

On October 7th 1984, my childhood hero, Walter Payton broke Jim Brown’s all-time rushing record in a game against the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field.  I was 12 years old at the time and in attendance at the game.  While it may be nothing more than a sports record, I genuinely felt that I was witnessing an important historical moment.  I soaked in the celebration and fanfare and felt very fortunate to be there.  It really seemed like a perfect day to be a Chicago sports fan.  However, the day wasn’t over, and this being Chicago, one could almost expect some sort of rain on our parade.  Well, the rain came, in the form of the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs were in San Diego playing game five of the National League Championship Series against the Padres.  It was a game that really shouldn’t have been happening at all.  The Cubs had jumped out to a 2-0 game lead in the best of five series, when the Padres roared back to tie the series at two apiece.  This meant one game would determine whether or not the Cubs would go to the World Series for the first time since 1945.  I don’t want to rehash all the gory details here (although they are addressed in the play) but I think it’s safe to say even those completely indifferent to Chicago sports history are aware that the Cubs weren’t in the World Series in 1984 and haven’t gone to the big dance in the years that have followed.  Needless to say, this 12 year old was devastated.

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, those two wonderfully clichéd terms got to slow dance together in the hearts of so many Chicagoans on that day.  The tracks were laid for the emotional roller coaster this Chicago sports fan would ride from that day forward.

It is 26 years later, and we are gearing up to open a play that confronts the stranglehold Chicago sports has on the emotional life of the fan.  Quite honestly, the events of that day, and the Chicago Bears season the following year, are the reason this play exists at all.  I am alternately excited, scared, enthusiastic, and nervous.  Basically, I’m experiencing the range of emotions that makes being a sports fan so wonderful and hopefully leads to great theater.

At the end of the day, I don’t know if the coincidence of opening 1985 on October 7th has any real significance- but in the heart and mind of this writer and fan; it sure does.

BEAR DOWN!