Topdog/Underdog

Rating:
Summary: A steer in a speckled pasture
Review: Unless you are Chekov, writing an entire play about planning to do something that never happens is bloody boring quite frankly. Last year I was subjected to this monstrosity of a play by a director friend of mine. Having just come on a wave of rave reviews from the states and a pulitzer prize from the university of columbia I thought that I would give this play a chance. My god, the suffering that followed! It has come to my attention that many consider this to be a play of great merit and strength, that it is a bold new avenue of dealing with the tragic hero. I have heard raves that there is a rhythm and meter that is revolutionary to the modern voice of playwriting. If this is the case then I challenge anyone who reads this to answer me with an intelligent reply as to how this is true. I did not find anything revolutionary about the rhythm. I found only a feeble volley of sensationalistic verbage that sounds nothing like art but only pandering. This is as one reviwerer aptly put like a well produced studio album yet has neither soul nor substance. So what of that studio like rhythm? If there is no substance to the words behind it, who cares? A tailor is not rewarded by his employer for fashioning together only half a coat to warm his cold body. So why should we reward S.L. Parks for fashioning together a half witted story that only shocks and not shapes our senses? I could go on, so I will. I spoke briefly that critics raved about the new voice created for the marginalized. First let us consider this, Just because a play gives a voice to a group that is traditionally marginalized does not mean that it is good literature (or entertaining for that matter.)Ssimlpy because it enchanted you into mindlessly pouring forth some form of emotional investment that does not make it a good piece of work. However thrilling this can be at times it does not denote quality. What does in most cases is a empathy for humanity, a revolutionary voice that is unique and intelligently unique to that artist and is bloody well not trying to pander for awards from predominantly white critics and judges. You can call a steer a bull but I can guarantee you that the animal knows the difference, and so does the buyer. And since we are the buyers in this case I say this to the masses , do not be told by the media what to like. Think for yourself and question authority. My questioning has led me to demand better from live theatre.