“Topdog/Underdog” has a one night performance at the University

The play “Topdog/Underdog” by Suzan-Lori Parks was performed at the Student Union on Feb.12 and was put on by the University theater group, Group Therapy. Directed by Benvolio Tomaiuolo, it stars David Givens as Lincoln and Matt Hammond as Booth.

The play deals with very heavy issues of masculinity, "white face" and codependency. "I decided on ‘Topdog/Underdog’ because I wanted to better understand the play. The first time I encountered it was during my senior year in high school,” Tomaiuolo said.

“Topdog/Underdog” is about the competitive relationship of two brothers, Lincoln and Booth, trying to make a new life away from their poverty stricken past. Lincoln, the older brother, has given up his career as a successful con artist for an honest job portraying Abraham Lincoln in an arcade. Booth, the little brother, still believes that the hustle of the con game, three-card monte, will bring the promise of a better life.

   It opened with the entrance of Booth into a sparse apartment the two brothers share. In the first few moments of the play, the audience is introduced to the nature of the two. Despite all his big man talk, Booth is clearly the little brother, while Lincoln's big brother responsibilities have led him into forays of adulthood he'd rather forget. The brothers are poverty-stricken, sad and disgustingly reliant on each other.

Since the play is a two-man act, the performance relied very heavily on the actors Givens and Hammond. While the chemistry between the two actors could have been more convincing, individually Givens and Hammond each captured their characters wholeheartedly.

“I was very nervous about doing a two man act,” Givens said. “I've never done anything like this before because I'm use to ensemble musicals."

The first act of the play lacked some consistency. The shaky start could have been due to opening night jitters, but since the play was a one night only performance, the inconsistency is less forgiving.

It seemed that Givens and Hammond were acting independently from one another for the majority of the first act. The humor however, was played to the fullest and big laughs helped pull the audience through to the second act without complaint.

Givens and Hammond worked better together in the second act of the play. The revelations of Lincoln and Booth witnessing their parents’ adultery to one another was very moving from both actors.

The push-pull relationship of the brothers was more convincing when the two actors had to physically confront each other. The big moment ironic ending where Booth shoots Lincoln was a bit predictable, but Givens’ role as Lincoln was convincingly filled with denial until the bitter end.

Hammond's portrayal of Booth straddled the line of cocky know-it-all and insecure little brother perfectly, although though the performance could have done with less nervous laughter. The portrayal of insanity is always difficult but with Hammond's performance, the audience was able to understand Booth's declining mental state without the play directly addressing the issue. 

Givens gave a great performance of a world weary Lincoln. He provided a relieving juxtaposition to Booth's erratic behavior and shouting. His subtle role as Lincoln gave a full realm of emotions to the play that was sorely needed. He portrayed the self-effacing qualities of a man responsible for his little brother with surprising sincerity.

The stage production of the play matched the low-key atmosphere of the story. The use of transitional music in particular had a great urban feel and added to the atmosphere of the play. The lighting of the play however, distracted from the actors and distracted the audience.

The lights for the whole play were directed at the audience. Not only did this cast the actors in the shadows but the effect left the audience feeling as if they were on stage. Understandably, the lighting was probably a complication of the venue, but next time it might be best to make a lamp a part of the set.

Despite any glitches, the play's performance was to a packed house. “I think it was so great that we had a full house, I'm thrilled,” Tomaiuolo said.