Writer: Suzan-Lori Parks
Director: Kenny Leon
Cast: Corey Hawkins and Yahya Abdul–Mateen II
Lincoln and Booth are a pair of down-and-out brothers forced by circumstance to share a single room. Abandoned by their parents at a young age the duo have relied on their wits and cunning to survive over the years. Lincoln is a con man who specializes in the popular hustle 3 Card Monte and Booth adept thief known to boost from select stores. As adults, they are forced into a shared domicile after Lincoln’s marriage falls apart. It doesn’t take long for the cramped quarters to breed resentment as Booth often reminds Lincoln that his welcome has been overstayed. The animosity intensifies at every inconvenience and the brothers argue with increasing cruelty, reliving the worst moments of their shared existence. Named after a famously deadly pair as a joke, the brothers maintain a combative existence often falling short of any real damage. As the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt but will the familial bond between these brothers be enough to keep history from repeating itself?
Entering the Golden theater for Parks’ revival play is to join a musical testament to excellent storytelling. The sounds of black voices echo in the small theater as a mixture of 90’s hip-hop, Blues, and Soul classics fill the space. The energy is electric setting the tone for a comical first act. The opening scene is the brother’s shared home a modestly furnished room equipped with 1 bed and 1 recliner. The entirety of the play takes place in this impoverished dwelling. Each scene finds the brothers in deep conversation, each exchanging a mixture of playful banter, resentment, and at times forced humility. It doesn’t take long to grasp the brother’s distinct personalities: Corey Hawkins is Lincoln the older of the two and the realist. He is the doting older brother still looking after his wide-eyed younger sibling. After being put out by his wife he moves in with Booth and takes on a job in whiteface as a Lincoln impersonator to pay the bills. The job is a source of contention for the brothers as well as comedy. Hawkins gives a remarkable performance as Lincoln and though it isn’t a musical he even belts out a bluesy soulful song with a grim foreshadowing of what’s to come. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is the idealist little brother Booth, an enterprising young man with more dreams than common sense. Despite living off of his brother’s meager earnings Booth harbors a resentment towards Lincoln that is equal parts disappointment and jealousy.
Each scene is a poignant exchange between the siblings. While mostly comical there is laughter in an undercurrent of unspoken anger and lingering sadness. Through these moments we gain insight into the circumstances that shaped the siblings and their worldview. As the story plays out the exchanges grow in intensity, and the jokes go from playful ribbing to intentional cruelty. Their petty disagreements become gut-punching revelations shining a dangerously intense light on long-forgotten rivalry. The rivalry is one-sided and the play ends in a heartbreaking burst of emotion that left the entire audience gasping for air. Truly a remarkable experience TopDog Underdog is a timeless tale that is equal parts to modern allegory and classic theater. The play opens on October 20th. Go see it!
Head over to topdogunderdog.com for more information.