Topdog/Underdog Outline

First, I would like to thank you for giving me an opportunity to present this pitch. Topdog/Underdog is a play by Suzan-Lori Parks that I would like for you to consider producing at the Voorhees Theater. In my pitch I have included a brief synopsis of the play, Theme of the play and how the production would help the fellow students. To further persuade you I have included a brief history of the past productions of the play, written review of different productions of the play, some casting choices as well as some comments from the Playwright herself regarding the Play. I hope by the end of this pitch I have persuaded you to bring Topdog/Underdog to Voorhees Theater at our very own City Tech College. So, without further a due let me begin.
Topdog/Underdog is a play by American Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks which debuted in 2001 off-Broadway in New York City. The following year it opened on Broadway, at the Ambassador Theater, where it played for a while. Topdog/Underdog is a play that spins around two African American siblings: Lincoln and Booth. Their dad

picked their names as a joke quickly before abandoning them. The decision of naming the kids after a professional killer and his objective anticipates how wild the connection amongst Lincoln and Booth would progress towards the end. Since they only had one another the brothers had depended on each other for survival. Presently in their thirties, the two men battle to constitute another life, one that will abandon them far from indigence. Lincoln spends his days getting "shot" playing President Lincoln as a tourist attraction, while Booth tries to ace the con amusement three-card monte. All through their countless hardships, the siblings swing to conning individuals in the city, and even each other, in their endeavors to survive. Throughout the play, the brother’s display their need to be the “Topdog” and to have complete power toward the other sibling. It is an unremarkable display of competition within brothers, which turns hazardous and at last destructive by the end. They forget that having one another is more important than being above or better than each other.
One element of drama that helps us understand the theme throughout the play is the use of Props. The cards for the game 3-card monte were used as props and portrayed a prominent role in the lives of the characters. All along the play one thing Booth wanted to do was be as good at the game as his older brother Link. Ever since the starting of the play Booth kept on asking Link to collaborate with him in the 3-card monte so they can scam people together. However, for Link he never really took the time to train his brother properly. I feel like the reason for that is Link’s desire of being better than his brother in everything possible. Link did not have a perfect lifestyle and in a way through his treatment of his brother we can almost feel as if he wanted the same for his brother. He didn’t teach Booth how to play the game properly because he didn’t want his brother to get better at it then him. As a reader I almost felt as if Link always wanted to have power over Booth. He wanted to be the one in control as he brought home his salary and shared with his brother. 3-card Monte was a way that Booth could pass Lincoln’s level and would be bringing home the money and supporting himself. As for Booth I think he wanted to learn the game, so he could be the one in power. If he had learned the game successfully he would be the one bringing home the money and supporting himself and maybe his brother as well. He wanted to feel like he had some power over Link.
Another major reason why you should consider bringing the play to the Voorhees theater is because it has been loved throughout the years. Ever since the first production of the play people have been loving this play and relating to it. As mentioned before the play opened off-Broadway at the Public Theater on July 26, 2011. Nevertheless, this was not the end of the production for this well-loved play. The play then proceeded to be produced in several theaters over time. Some of which include The Ambassador Theatre on Broadway in 2002, The Royal Court Theatre in London in 2003, The Theatre Centre in Toronto later in 2011 and lastly at The Two River Theater Company in New Jersey in 2012 (Wikipedia). The play was also produced at the Shaw Festival in Canada in 2011 (Wikipedia). Along with the production of the play came many reviews from numerous newspapers and websites informing people about the quality of the play. These reviews often included of feedbacks, spoiler alerts, character analysis, etc.
The production of the play at The Ambassador Theatre on Broadway in 2002 was the second production of the play. The play starred Mos Def (as Booth) and Jeffrey Wright (as Lincoln) and the play was produced by George C. Wolfe. (Brentley, 2002). The New York times posted a review of this production the following day written by Ben Brentley in which he said, “Under the bravura direction of George C. Wolfe, a man who understands that showmanship and intellectual substance are not mutually exclusive, ''Topdog/Underdog'' is a deeply theatrical experience” (Brentley, 2002). One can say the production of the play was very successful judging by the comments written by Ben. Throughout the play Ben praised the cast, the playwright and the producer. Ben went on saying that this production was even better than the original “Tighter and tenser than it was at the Public last spring, when the production starred Mr. Wright and Don Cheadle, ''Topdog/Underdog'' now emerges as the most exciting new home-grown play to hit Broadway” (Brentley, 2002). The play’s effectiveness isn’t questionable as Ben said, “it's blowing through the dusty, dim corridors of a lackluster theater season like the breeze of a long-delayed spring.” (Brentley,2002)
If produced at city tech my casting choices for this production would be Marlon Wayans (as Lincoln) and Damon Wayans Jr.

(as Booth). Marlon Lamont Wayans is a 45-year-old, comedian, film producer, actor and screenwriter. Damon Wayans Jr. is a 35-year-old, stand-up comedian, actor and writer (IMDB). As you can tell by the similarity in the last names both individuals are biological brothers. I chose Marlon and Damon because they are both brothers, African American and similar to age in Link and Booth. During my research regarding the past production of the play I didn’t come cross a cast that had biological brothers play Link and Booth. I think bringing Biological brother as Link and Booth will make the connection between the brothers stronger and more real. It’ll bring a unique spark and chemistry to the performance and the characters that’s never been seen or felt before during the production of

Topdog/Underdog.