“Topdog/Underdog”

**** Try to imagine growing up in what is considered a “loveless home”, with two parents who truly only care about themselves. The two brothers who are the main characters in Suzan-Lori Parks “Topdog/Underdog”, now onstage at Steppenwolf Theatre’s “Downstairs” stage grew up with. One might say that all they truly had was each other. Their parents gave them names that might be considered a joke: Lincoln (played to perfection by Glenn Davis) and Booth (deftly handled by Namir Smallwood).

These men are just existing, with Lincoln working in an arcade where he dresses as Abraham Lincoln and Booth is unemployed. At one time, Lincoln was a hustler who had great skill at the game called “three-card monte”, a street con game that at one time was played to con tourists in major cities. He no longer does this, but Booth, has been trying to master the game so that he can be “the man”.At present, Lincoln is living in Booth’s one-room apartment and paying his share ( or perhaps more than)of the costs.

While the brothers seem to get along, as the story unfolds, we learn a great deal about their past, both perceived and real, and  how their parents’ lives back then are now having an effect on their lives, now. The entire production takes place on one set ( designed by Arnulfo Maldonado), and with the slick direction by Kenny Leon, we get the feeling that playwright Parks was trying to convey.  This is not what one might call a real life, but instead an existence.

Sibling rivalry is a part of the story and the way these two men play off each other, it is quite obvious that Booth wants to be Lincoln, or at least enjoy the success that he has had. Every scene in the two acts leads us to the weakness each of the brothers has and past experiences that may have brought them to where they are today. I prefer not to divulge what transpires leading s to an ending that might be hard for some to digest, but will say that, having seen other productions of this play, these two actors are by far the strongest I have been witness to and make this version highly enjoyable.

On the tech side, in addition to the set, which truly helps define the lifestyle of the brothers, I was very impressed by the props, the lighting (Lee Fiskness), the sound ( Justin Ellington) and the costumes (Dede Ayite). While the set is fairly simple, there are many details that must be handled from scene to scene. The curtain does come down, but rises moments later, with all the changes that are needed to keep the flow of action.

“Topdog/Underdog will continue through November 1st with performances as follows:

Tuesdays        7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays  7:30 p.m.  (added matinee at 2 p.m. on 10/21)

Thursdays      7:30 p.m.

Fridays           7:30 p.m.

Saturdays      3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sundays         3:00 p.m.

NO PERFORMANCES ON 10/1, 10/6, 10/13, 10/21 and 10/22

ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES:

Audio-described & touch tour 10/25 at 3 p.m. ( touch at 1:30)

Open Captioned  10/8 at 7:30 p.m. and 10/17 at 3:00 p.m.

ASL-Interpreted  10/16 at 7:30 p.m.

For tickets: www.steppenwolf.org

312-335-1650

The run time for the play is 2 hours 30 minutes, including one intermission

Steppenwolf Theatre is located at 1750 N. Halsted Street                                                                                           Photos by Michael Brosilow

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up, and click on “Topdog/Underdog”.