Directed by Pedro Ayala, Dynamic Theatre will present Suzan-Lori Parks' 2002 Pulitzer Prize winning play Topdog Underdog on May 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th
Topdog Underdog tells the story of Lincoln and Booth, two brothers whose names were given to them as a joke, foretelling a lifetime of sibling rivalry and resentment. Haunted by the past, the brothers are forced to confront the shattering reality of their future.
Booth and Lincoln are African-American brothers who have struggled together since they were teenagers. Their mother left them when they were still adolescents, and two years later, their father abandoned them. Since then, they have fended for themselves.
Dynamic theatre will use underlying themes that connect to local and national economic and job challenges and current day money hustlers and deceivers.
In a recent press release Ayala said, "I worked on Topdog at Trinity [Rep] five years ago. The production zapped me with a view of life choices that I had seen in my own neighborhood. It showed me how drama and comedy can both be at play to reveal a profound lens into human behavior."
Ayala continued, "When life presents what seems be insurmountable challenge, people can regress to familiar choices to live a life of hustling to get by and make ends meet. These choices destroy family and any hope to break the cycle and to move toward productive change. There's always the question: 'Am I the hustler or am I the mark?' ".
Topdog Underdog opens May 1st at The Met Black Box Theatre, 325 Public Street Providence, RI. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.; performances begin at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are $8.00 for adults; $5.00 for student and can be reserved online at www.dyanmictheatre.org.
