“Topdog/Underdog”

Smoothly directed by Aaron Reese Boseman on the stage at the new home of the Invictus Co. Chicago, the Windy City Playhouse, as you arrive to the theater, and as you make your way to the seats, you will find that Booth is already on the stage. He is sleeping, then wakes and does things that a guy might do when home alone. He pays no attention to you, the audience, and does some things that are almost impossible to imagine, giving you a little insight into the kid brother.

The set by Kevin Rolfs is in many ways scary. The “apartment” for lack of a better word is in reality a huge room with two levels. There is a closet and a sink ( that has no running water). This is a “walk-up” where the bathroom is in the hall and shared by others in the same situation as Booth, no money! The older brother, Lincoln ,has a job, playing Abraham Lincoln in an arcade where he gets shot (over and over), but gets paid for this. When we first meet him he is in “white face” in full Lincoln Garb, coming home with dinner. He works and his income helps to cover the costs for the brothers.

During the play we learn that their parents named them their names as a sort of joke, knowing that they would become rivals as most brothers do. Turns out, that before Lincoln did the job he has at present, he was quite the hustler doing “Three Card Monte” and doing it with style and class. Booth longs for his chance to do this and make a lot of money, so he can get out of this hell-hole he calls home. He is quite the shoplifter, priding himself on his quick hands, thus he feels “three Card Monte” will be his future.

Booth has a lady friend ( who we never meet). Her name is Grace and we hear a great deal about her and their future. In fact, the second act opens with Booth having cleaned up the place for a special night with her- dinner, wine, curtains and all dressed up. I will not give away any more than to tell you that things don’t always work out the way one expects or anticipates. Lincoln loses his job, finds another source of income, going back to his old ways and then we have a major confrontation between the two brothers. We see the love/hate/love relationship go places where we should never go and an end that will shock you.

The story is tense at times and funny at others. The guys show brotherly love for the most part but when the tension rises, they hit their boiling points . The technical aspect of this production is very well done. Barbie Brown ( props) truly does a masterful job. There are probably more props in this production than in any five other theaters in town. The costumes (Marquecia Jordan) are just right for the story and the lighting (Brandon Wardell and Josiah Croegaert) create the moods needed.

I will tell you that there are some actions that may not sit well with some audience members. Language, sexual matters and smoking are a major part of these men’s lives, therefore they must be a part of the production. These are powerful performances by both actors and a final scene that will blow you away!