George Street Playhouse delivers a knuckle sandwich in Lynn Nottage’ “Clyde’s”. Some may have seen it on Broadway, but in the intimacy of the Arthur Laurents Theatre, it becomes very close and personal.
We are in back of house at an eponymous sandwich shop. Montrellous (Gabriel Lawrence) is expounding on the joys of a well-made sandwich, working his magic to get Clyde (Darlene Hope) the shop owner, to take a bite. Just. One. Bite. How can she resist?! Apparently, an iron will. Montrellous is a philosopher, the Earl of Sandwich and he inspires his co-workers to their own creativity.
We meet Letitia (Sydney Lolita Cusic) and Rafael (Xavier Reyes). Letitia keeps things light – she’s effervescent and yet resilient, a single mother who still has a thing for her ex. Rafael has a thing for Letitia and he is ebullient with Latin charm, flash to her sass. And he smolders in relative silence, all the while trying to catch her eye. When new-guy Jason (Ryan Czerwonko) shows up with his Aryan Nation prison tats, how will this all shake out? The proof is in the pudding, so save room for dessert.
Lynn Nottage has a way with words and characters. Each one of these people has something in common that brought out something they didn’t know they had. And when they put it all together, magic happens. Lots of questions though – the main one being why do we so often stand in our own way when happiness is a step away? See genius in writing as well as in Melissa Maxwell’s direction, with an all-star team that brings you into a parallel universe. The final scene will linger long after you leave the theatre.
Hungry for something real? Clyde’s runs through February 19, so make your reservations. Visit GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org today!