Just in time for baseball season, Burien Little Theatre presents "Bleacher Bums," a comedy that swings for the fences and scores a home run in laughs.

"Bleacher Bums" features a diverse cross-section of eight Chicago Cubs fans who cheer on their team against their hated division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. Some of them have followed the Cubbies for 30 years; others are just there to get a tan.

Present at Wrigley Field during this hot summer day are Greg (Dash Shearer), a blind man who seems to be more aware of the game than anyone else; Decker (Alan Wilkie), a loud mouthed gambler; Richie (Matt Bordwell), Decker's geeky son who reluctantly serves as his father's scorekeeper; Mr. Zigowski (Don Speirs), a gambling addict who cannot seem to turn down any bet; Rose Zigowski (Kate Brophy), his wife who disapproves of his gambling; Marvin (Mark Burton), an anti-Cubs fan who roots for the Cardinals just out of spite; and Melody King (Dallas Milholland,) a gorgeous sunbather who seems more interested in soaking up the rays than noticing the game.

A die-hard Cubs cheerleader (a high energy Adrian Moynihan) appears every once in a while dressed in nothing but shorts and a Cubs jersey painted on his torso. He tries everything, from obnoxiously heckling the opponents to holding up obscene homemade signs, to help his beloved Cubbies win.

The entire play takes place within the nine innings of this particular game. As any baseball fan knows, the Cubs have not won a World Series title since the Teddy Roosevelt administration.

"Bleacher Bums" wonderfully portrays the frustration any Cubs fan must feel as every summer begins with hope but eventually ends in disappointment.

Throughout the entire game Decker, Mr. Zigowski and Marvin trade bets with each other over little things such as what a particular hitter will do in his at-bat or whether the Cubs will win by two or more runs. Marvin even makes a bet with Richie to encourage him to ask for Melody's phone number, which leads to a funny scene where Richie has to tell every lie in the book to get this beautiful sunbather to even notice him.

"Bleacher Bums" is a delightful show that consists of moments instead of a unified plot. The play's pleasures come out of the interactions between the characters and recognizing how the phrase "it's only a game" does not apply to everyone.

Director Zachariah Robinson has chosen a great cast who understands the material and makes us feel like we are really at a baseball game. He establishes an even pacing throughout the show so that the play's 90 minutes (without an intermission) flies by quicker than a Kerry Wood fastball.

Also appearing in the show are Russ Kay, whose voice is heard as Wrigley Field's stadium announcer, and two concession vendors (CaitieMae Ryberg and Elisabet Edwards) who will actually sell food to audience members during the show. This is how far BLT is willing to go to make this performance as authentic as possible.

Both baseball fans and those who could not tell you who the Cubs' quarterback is will enjoy this comedy about the friendship, loyalty, optimism and human nature. Sports can bring out the best and worst in us. The eight people presented in this play are no exceptions.

Actor Joe Mantegna and several performers at Chicago's Organic Theatre Company conceived "Bleacher Bums". The script definitely feels like it was it was borne out of improvisation. However, BLT's cast makes the script feel as natural as a trip to the ballpark.

The show runs weekends through May 9. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.

General admission costs $20 while seniors and students get in for $17. Patrons can save money by purchasing tickets online. For more information, visit www.burienlittletheatre.com or call 206-242-5180.