‘Top Dog’ offers attendees some good drama

The Southern University theater department is ending the spring semester in style with their final production, “Topdog/Underdog.”
The piece, written by famed playwright Suzan Lori-Parks, won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2002 and garnered national attention on Lori-Parks who became the first African-American woman to win the prestigious prize in the dramatic category.
The play centers around two brothers, Lincoln and Booth. Lincoln gets kicked out by his ex-girlfriend and begins to live with his brother Booth.
Booth, who is the youngest of the siblings, dreams of being a big three-card Monte street hustler like his big brother used to be. But Lincoln quit hustling when his partner was killed.
Now he’s trying to make an honest living by performing at the local arcade. Booth attempts to convince Lincoln that their lives will change for the better if they partner up and “take the street hustling business by storm.” But drama ensues because Lincoln no longer sees any desire in that lifestyle. Booth, however, isn’t favorable with being the underdog and wants to be on top. He also hates the fact that Lincoln won’t return to his old ways.
By the play’s end, Booth isn’t happy and comes to a decision that changes both of siblings’ lives forever.
“It’s a duel to the death from the beginning of the play,” said Dr. Aileen Hendricks, theater department professor and director of the production. “It’s almost a hypnotic spell that they (Lincoln and Booth) have to outdo each other. I see this in so many ways in our society alone.”
The play also touches on stereotypes.
“A lot of the play deals with the image of black males being savage brutes,” said Deion Dorsett, a senior economics and finance major from Baton Rouge, and one of the actors portraying the role of Lincoln. “This play goes to show that people are often stuck in situations because of their surroundings, and that there’s good in everybody but it’s hard to see when nothing but negativity surrounds you.”
Audience members have had great things to say about it.
“I think the play and the actors are really good,” said Tony Clay, a junior business management major from Lafayette. “I’m enjoying it.”
Wednesday marked the opening night of the play, but the production runs through Saturday, April 21. “Topdog/Underdog” starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Frank Hayden auditorium. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for non-students.