That Championship Season
That Championship Season
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1972
Book Brief
72
Play • Fiction
Pennsylvania • 1970s
1972
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
That Championship Season by Jason Miller follows a terminally-ill retired Catholic high school basketball coach in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as he reunites with his former players twenty years after their state championship win, uncovering old secrets and tensions. The play explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the impact of past glory on present lives. The play contains references to alcoholism, infidelity, violence, and bigotry.
Melancholic
Dark
Contemplative
Unnerving
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
180 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Jason Miller's That Championship Season is heralded for its deep exploration of nostalgia and collapse of past glory. Critics commend its sharp dialogue and complex characters, yet some highlight a dated perspective on masculinity and racial issues. Its tense, claustrophobic setting effectively intensifies the unraveling of its protagonists. Overall, an impactful, if somewhat antiquated, drama.
Who Should Read That Championship Season?
Readers who relish intense character-driven dramas, like Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, will appreciate That Championship Season. This play delves into themes of loyalty, failure, and redemption among former high school basketball champions, appealing to those drawn to complex interpersonal dynamics and moral ambiguity.
180 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
72
Play • Fiction
Pennsylvania • 1970s
1972
Adult
18+ years
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