Clyde’s
Two-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner Lynn Nottage is experiencing something playwrights seldom encounter. She had a great run with her plays on Broadway, with several of her plays being featured at the same time and receiving rave reviews. One of those Broadway plays is Clyde's, which is now at the Goodman Theatre, and I dare to say it's one of the most stimulating and eye-catching plays to hit Chicago theaters.
Clyde's is a cheap, run-down cafe truck stop shop selling sandwiches that allows formerly incarcerated prisoners to work as kitchen staff a chance at redemption. Unfortunately, the owner, who was also an ex-member of the prison correctional system, runs the shop like a warden, continuously belittling and reminding them they are fortunate to have this job, as no one else would hire released convicts.
Takeshi Kata's simplistic set design wonderfully brings this greasy spoon truck shop to life, making it look like a total dive and Director Kate Whoriskey skillfully captures the brilliance and intensity of Nottage’s play. Clyde’s is an exhilarating ride from beginning to end.
While working at the shop, four inmates share the issues that caused them to be imprisoned, learn to release their troubled past, and begin to believe they have a purpose in life, united by their quest to create the perfect sandwich.
We hear about the prison being a correctional center where those who have committed a crime are discharged after serving their time. However, society sees released prisoners as a menace to society, not worthy of redemption. I can attest to this after working in the ministry prison system program, where I had the pleasure of counseling inmates for over a decade.
Clyde's brilliantly brings the forgotten to life while showcasing their fragile existence as they strive to regain their purpose within society. Lynn Nottage is a master of opening our hearts and manipulating the audience to look into the mirror of our souls as we witness each character and remove the veil of judgment so we can see their human factor and ourselves. By doing this, we can relate to their struggles and their pain as they pursue to rejoin society — a society that would prefer they stay in prison and forgotten.
Letitia explains that the desire to care for her child and greed caused her to land in jail. She tells the new hire, Jason, this:
“You know what it’s like. Ain’t shit, but misery. seven months ago, I got out, that cold wind hit me hard, and things got real real. Seventy-five dollars in my pocket, nobody to hold my hand, nobody to say it’s gonna be okay, baby. I dialed the same number you dialed. And Clyde answered. And let me tell you something, you here cuz you done run outta options, ain’t nobody gonna hire you except for Clyde - Letitia.”
Likewise, Rafael desired to please his girl and Jason's frustration of losing his job to scabs. How Montrellous wound up behind bars wasn't provided at the beginning of the play; however, we learn that he is in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Clyde's core cast centered around Letitia (Nedra Snipes), Rafael (Reza Salazar), Jason (Garrett Young), and Montrellous, the connoisseur Zen-master sandwich-maker. Montrellous, an aficionado in describing the essence of making a sandwich, made the entire audience want to run to Subway to get a sandwich. And then there was Clyde.
Clyde, the proprietor (Danielle Davis), enjoys telling her staff that she is the only one that will hire "morons" like them. The staff thinks she's the devil, and she reminds them not to try her because the last man who tried that isn't around to try it again. She made damn sure of that!
All the actors in this play were amazing; however, the understudy Danielle Davis stole the show. Most understudies rarely get a chance to shine and last night reminded me of a 1950 film where film stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing, a highly regarded but aging Broadway star, lost her role to Anne Baxter as Eve Harrington. The film was called All About Eve, however, last night it was all about Davis; Danielle Davis. I've loved all of Davis's performances and can't wait until Chicago realizes her tremendous talent in a lead role, but after last night she told the world I'm here and here to stay. Davis owned the role of Clyde.
“ This sandwich is my strength. This sandwich is my victory. This sandwich is my freedom - Montrellous ”
Nottage's dark comedy focuses on incarcerated individuals dealing with drug addiction, homelessness, loneliness, poverty, and the desire for acceptance. It will capture your soul and make you laugh as we learn we all are looking for a second chance to exhale from the trials of life.
Ultimately, they leave the restaurant one by one and the hold Clyde had over their lives. The moral of Clyde's is that no matter how someone sees you, you have to believe in yourself and never allow others to determine your worth.
The vituperative language in this play may shock the audience, but the in-your-face dialogue is vital to understanding the character. Clyde is so riveting from beginning to end that it's sure to be one of the hottest shows in Chicago. It's a play you don't want to miss! And the end of the play is a classic.
Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Clyde's at Goodman Theatre.
CLYDES
Goodman Theatre
By Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage
Directed by Kate Whoriskey
Sept 10 - Oct 9, 2022
