“Clyde’s”

Newcomer, Jason ( a strong portrayal by Garrett Young) appears. He is uneasy about his position and appears to be quite nervous. Nottage takes us into the heads of all of these kitchen helpers and from their conversation, while working, we begin to form opinions about their lives and how they may have gotten there. Each one desires to create the perfect sandwich that will make them famous. Montrellous does bring in a newspaper review that calls the food at Clyde’s amazing, but Clyde shrugs it off as just a free paper that has no value and not to set their hopes up higher than they can possibly reach. After all, they are all losers.

As someone who has worked in a kitchen, albeit more of a hot dog/burger place, I know how it feels to be “just” the potato peeler, or “just” the onion dicer. Throw the fries in the fryer, get the steam tables up to 380 degrees. I remember Marshall and Selma giving order to the Ross twins, the Fez and myself. We did all the work while they had all the glory. The “Fez” ( his nickname) did have dreams about one day opening a plush night spot where steaks and lobster were on the menu. He was a “greaser” and my folks told me to stay away from him. He was a loser. This play brought back the memories of the 1950’s and what I experience when in high school. I felt for these people and while Nottage has created some very funny lines ( you will find yourself in hysterics at times), the truth of the matter is that people with dreams are owed the respect that allows them to have those dreams. In the end you will see her point clearly. All these Losers” have to do is create the greatest sandwich ever and they will turn their lives around.

Directed byKate Whoriskey ,on a masterful set by Takeshi Kata, the entire 90 minutes takes place in a kitchen. The kitchen looked as authentic as the place where I worked. The most important person in this production , on the tech side, had to be the prop master (Alice Maguire). There are all kinds of foods on the stage as well as kitchen items and knives. The prop-master must make sure that each performance has every item needed and that all of these are in the right place at the right time. Jennifer Moeller’s costumes were very fitting and the lighting (Christopher Akerlind) and sound (Justin Ellington) were right on. The musical composition by Justin Hicks fit the story and the moods of the different scenes.

If you have been waiting for something special to see for your return to live theater, THIS IS IT! “Clyde’s” will continue at the Goodman Theatre thru October 9th with performances as follows: