South Coast Rep's Pulitzer Play "Topdog/Underdog"

O.C.’s South Coast Repertory's (SCR) Current
Play-- Pulitzer Prize Winner Topdog/Underdog

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Theater Review:  
Powerful, Smart, Unflinchingly Moving, Highest Award-Winning Play Is Almost "Too Tough" To “Enjoy”

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By: Joseph Sirota

Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks has not only won a Pulitzer, two Obies and multiple critics and other Awards, she’s also a genuine genius (endowed by the MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Grant). Her writing is as powerful and tough as her mind is agile and diverse. In Topdog/Underdog Parks takes us on a tornado of a tale conveying the lives of two black brothers, who we find sharing a no-bathroom, no running water, one-worn bed..one old recliner-chair. It’s younger bro Booth’s “sad-pad”(he’s more street-hardened) Booth's temporary border, older bro Lincoln is more worldy-wise of life’s range & possibilties. The city, is unnamed, but my having grown up in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy area and graduated undergrad college just blocks from Harlem, I’d say Park’s finely drawn portrait of the very hard lives of these abandoned two brothers (Mom left at 14 & 9, Dad runs at 16 & 11) is very true to life and perhaps, also too rough/depressing for some audience members. Bros might
say, “Just Too Hot for the House”.

As Booth and Lincoln talk of “getting-by” now and back in childhood, their lives and paths unfolds. Though
familiarly close, they are psychologically deeply different “inside”(in ethics, soul, and emotional stability). Older son Lincoln reveals even their names were their father’s idea of a joke, (ala Cain & Able) with 1st son’s Lincoln’s name being followed by Booth, historical murderer of President
Lincoln. Lincoln, (still more cynically coincidentally) happens to be making a thin, but survivable salary acting out (in white face, beard and tall stovetop hat) the adored Abe Lincoln in a little seaside arena where people/kids buy a ticket to sneak up and shoot the pretend Prez with a toy cap-gun. It sells tickets, even with this Lincoln being a black stand-in.

Bro Lincoln used to be quite the wealthy stud in prior days--as king 3-card Monte street hustler. He had fast hands, fast talk, and buckets of smooth charm -- complete with shills & lookouts. Still handsome now, and fleetingly quite charming, Lincoln had really drawn in the cash and women in his heyday. But, when a cohort was killed, he turned toward a more clean, ethical life path, even with far less
moolah or “ladies”. Little bro, Booth has a love/envy view of Lincoln. He admires Lincoln and knows he wouldn’t have survived without him in childhood (relating days they both out ran the Officials from the Child-Welfare agencies
seeking to “house” them. But while Booth admired Lincoln, especially in the height of Lincoln’s 3-card Monte street-star days, he envied the cash, sex & respect, wanting it, though lacking Lincoln’s skills. Booth only excelled in stealing, and in fighting.

The two actors are terrific. Curtis McClarin has all those smooth, charming, complex traits and style to be a perfect Lincoln. He also uses his complexity and range to totally convince and enthrall us. Larry Bates, has the less blessed role, as he has to be the one who lacks his brother’s fast hands, sweet charm, more worldly philosophy(in the play). It’s crucial that we realize, that Mr. Bates is ACTING – and so vividly, that we don’t like him as much, and fear him more. The very fact that we do, proves Bates’ power, impact and success in portraying Booth. Director
Seret Scott does well in guiding true-to-story moods, warnings and feelings, but more comic relief would sure be welcome. The SCR production team, always superb, is again 1st rate. Shaun Motley(sets),  Jaymi Smith(lighting), Sam Lerner (sound), Soojin Lee(costumes) and Jackie S. Hill(production manager). All-in-all, it’s a well-written, well-acted, well produced/directed play in a top notch theater.
But like fine high-proof liquor and complex “hot sauces”, Topdog/Underdog may be found rather Hard to Swallow.

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-Topdog/Underdog @ SCR’s Julianne
Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Dr Costa Mesa. Schedule: 7:45PM Tues-thru-Sun nights. Matinees 2:PM Sat & Sun. Closes: Jan 29. Tkts:
$20-$68. Call: (714)708-5555  Net->  SCR.org