Topdog / Underdog premiered off-Broadway starring Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright in 2001. It transferred to Broadway the following year. It was revived in 2022 on Broadway and won the Tony for Best Revival of a play. In February of 2024, it opened at the Windy City Playhouse with a production by Invictus Theatre Company. And now, it is running at Steppenwolf Theatre.

Two brothers are living in a squalid house. Lincoln plays the 16th president in an arcade, who repeatedly gets shot by the customers. Booth steals from department stores, but he wants to run a three-card-monty game. He wants Lincoln to teach him so he can make a lot of money and win over Gracie.

This play is well written by Suzan-Lori Parks. The drama slowly builds to an intense climax. It’s a much more intimate stage than is usual for the downstairs theatre. During the curtain call, the weight of the performance is still hanging on the actor’s faces and in the audience.

Glenn Davis is excellent as Lincoln, who is glad he stopped playing the game and got a steady job. Namir Smallwood is fantastic as Booth, who envisions great wealth coming from the game leading to him getting back together with Gracie.

Cost of a ticket: $95 (Main Floor)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value –

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Topdog / Underdog through November 1st.

Quinn Delaney