The Pulitzer-Prize winning play is back on Broadway after 20 years at the Golden Theater.
Tonight we’re Golden, said Suzan-Lori Parks at opening night of Topdog/Underdog.
Park’s “Topdog/Underdog” has arrived back on Broadway after 20 years. When we spoke with Parks on opening night about if she had any doubts this time around, she affirmed to us that there has never been a greater time for this play to be brought back.
“Topdog/Underdog” originally ran at the Ambassador Theatre in 2001. Parks won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama the following year. This time around the play is directed by renowned director Kenny Leon.
On the red carpet Leon told us, “the play is a story that’s written about the love and the need for love of humanity that never gets old. It’s 20 years old, but it’s 500 years old. This production works because we’re listening to the world we’re living in.”
Other stars that stepped onto the carpet included Lorraine Toussaint, Spike Lee, Phylicia Rashad, Teyonah Parris, Tory Kittles, and many more.
The play follows the story of two brothers—Lincoln and Booth, who have a sorta “hustle” mentality. The two brothers have a connection to a card shuffling game that often causes rifts in their relationship. Ultimately, the card game becomes their downfall.
Corey Hawkins and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II are absolutely brilliant as the two brothers. Both give performances that garner laughter, shock, and a whole other plethora of emotions. Both characters are flawed in their own ways and oftentimes make mistakes that affect each other, but Hawkins and Abdul-Mateen are able to channel a level of vulnerability that you can’t help but accept the brothers for who they are.
After the show, Adbul-Mateen expressed heavily that it really took a team to bring the character’s thoughts, emotions, and actions to life. That team being Leon, Parks, him, and Hawkins.
The story takes place entirely in a small apartment so the aspect that draws you in the most are the performances. Abdul-Mateen said about his role, “Booth is a dreamer. He’s optimistic. I think that this a heart and soul play and Booth is the heart and Lincoln is the soul.”
Hawkins agreed to the same sentiment, explaining that he learned a great deal from the role and also from Leon and Parks. “I’m honestly so moved by this show. The people behind it are inspirational. Audiences need to see this not only for the story we’ve been able to tell, but for the work we’ve done to get here. And coming from just performing, I feel so much love from everyone and I know that love is going to carry throughout the run of this production.”
“Topdog/Underdog” teaches a grave lesson that we oftentimes won’t admit—sometimes our bad habits come back to haunt us. In the end, a bad habit strikes Booth and Lincoln that redemption can’t be sought. The play is as important as it was 20 years ago as it is today.
Tickets to Topdog/Underdog are available now until Jan. 15.
