By Sandi Masori in San Diego
Dog/ Underdog at Old Globe Theatre (Photo: Rich Soublet II)
The new show at The Old Globe, Topdog/ Underdog, is a powerful story of two brothers, Lincoln (Alano Miller) and Booth (Elijah Jones) who are struggling to make ends meet.
Lincoln has given up hustling after a friend’s death spooked him, and Booth is trying to become a better hustler. Linc, as his brother calls him, is trying to go straight by working as a Lincoln actor in a shooting gallery. He’s worried that he will be replaced by a wax figure and out of a job, and as the only Black Lincoln, he’s in a precarious spot to begin with.
Booth is trying to improve his three-card monte skills and wants Linc to come out of retirement to work the streets with him.
Scenic designer Arnel Sanciano’s set is very elaborate for theater-in-the round. Everything takes place in their apartment. The stage has carnival style lights underneath it and is on an interestingly shaped platform. Under the platform trash and cards are thrown around to give it that post-carnival feeling.
The chemistry between Miller and Jones is palpable. One would think these equity actors were brothers in real life, so natural was their repartee. And if Miller looks familiar, it’s because he has a string of tv credits (and award nominations) under his belt.
This is the second play the Globe has staged with playwright Suzan-Lori Parks. In the printed program artistic director Barry Edelstein notes that he first saw this play in 2001 and has been wanting to stage it since then.
This is not a show for young kids, as it has adult language and themes, but it’s an interesting slice of life for the adult audience.
Topdog/ Underdog plays through October 18th.
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Associate Editor Sandi Masori is a theater and food reviewer for San Diego Jewish World.