S: Is for "Superior Donuts"

Tonight I write about a play I saw a few days ago, but could not write about until it's opening, which was tonight. Upon first reading about "Superior Donuts," I had no urge to see it. I hated the title, the premise sounded dull and except for the playwright Tracy Letts and the amazing Steppenwolf Company, I just wasn't interested. I was wrong. "Superior Donuts" is the kind of play that will touch your heart. There are some whose hearts are so hardened that it will be hard to see the truth, so simply put. Most people will only see the surface story, others will see into it's soul.

There are those of us who dream and will always see the best in life, no matter how horrible and devastating our circumstances are. No matter the knocks, we refuse to let life get us down. We face up to challenges and try, and try and try. Maybe that tenacity comes from a place of pain or maybe a place of faith. I don't know. All I do know, is that those who don't have this personality type, hate those of us who do and try hard to squash the light. We are told we are dreamers, that we don't live in reality.

The truth is, we see reality clearer than most. It lives in our art.... in our writing.

"Superior Donuts" is the story of Arthur Przybyszewski (a lovable, Michael McKean) who was born with that kind of mind set, only to have it squashed. Through the years he has closed off and is unable to communicate. Enter 21 year old Franco Wicks (a terrific, Jon Michael Hill) whose optimism and brazen behavior, allows Arthur a second chance at authenticity. It is through Franco's destruction that Arthur, regains his life and in turn steps outside of his self to help the helpless Franco and the cynic becomes the dreamer. Along the way there are standout performances by Yasen Peyankov as Max Tarasov the foreigner, who longs to buy his neighbors shop. Michael Garvey as Kiril Ivakina, Max's hunky strapping nephew whose gentleness is masked by his looks. Jane Alderman as Lady Boyle the neighborhood drunk who sees through the masks. Kate Buddeke as Officer Randy Osteen who longs for Arthur to notice her. Director, Tina Landau, brings what could of easily become a sitcom and turns this into a wonderful evening of theatre.

You can see "Superior Donuts" at the Music Box Theater, 239 West 45th Street. I guess the only question to ask is will the cynics or the dreamers win out. At the performance I attended the audience couldn't wait to get on it's feet to applaudingly sends it's approval. Now I know, why cops hang out in donut shops and that is a tasty F.A.C.T