CHICAGO—One of the exciting things to see in a baseball game is what is called "back to back jax," which means two consecutive home runs. Well, it appears that Tracy Letts has achieved this feat with his new Superior Donuts at the Steppenwolf, following his award winning August: Osage County.
This is a marvelous story that takes place in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood about the decline of a local donut shop that has been in the neighborhood for years. Arthur Przybyszewski (Michael McKean in a superb character study of a man with "a history"), is the owner of Superior Donuts, a business built by his father and one that is sinking fast due to the increasingly popular chains (lots of mention of Starbucks), and the fact that donuts are not a healthy food.
Arthur is a divorcee whose ex-wife who just recently died and who had left him with his daughter years earlier. He is a true loner.
Now Arthur has lost his shop's assistant and hires a young African-American replacement (who might be the party responsible for a break-in that we witness at the play's start). The young man, Franco (a strong performance by Jon Michael Hill) wants to help Arthur make his business more modern, but he also has some "history." Franco has taken some time off from school and has written the "great American novel" that he feels will be his salvation and change his life.
This powerful story deals examines how friendship and love, as well as being cared for and about, are what make us what and who we are.
Other characters add to this theme. The shop's regulars are the business owner next door, Max Tarasov (the always strong Yasen Peyankov), a Russian who wants to buy the donut shop in order to expand his retail video/electronics/porn store; the cops on the beat (James Vincent Meredith and Kate Buddeke); and Lady (Jane Alderman who can take a small role and make it memorable) who comes by daily to sober up with a donut and a cup of "Joe."
In addition, two bookies have a problem with young Franco (Robert Maffia as Luther and Cliff Chamberlain as his gofer, Kevin). The other cast member is Michael Garvey as Max Tarasov's newly arrived nephew.
This fine cast, directed by Tina Landau, tell Mr. Letts story with just the right touches. Although the basic story is profound, the comical moments are magical. No matter your race or ethnicity, you will see the humor in this production. The set by Loy Arcenas truly feels like a donut shop in a declining neighborhood.
The music and sound design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen is perfection. Chuck Coyl's fight choreography adds just the right "punch" to Arthur's character. Every little detail in this production is precise and real in appearance.
Superior Donuts
The Steppenwolf Theatre
1650 N. Halsted, Chicago
Tickets: 312-335-1650 or online at www.steppenwolf.org
Closes: Aug. 17
Alan Bresloff writes theater reviews in the Chicago area.
Feeds