A revival of the dark comedy “Topdog/Underdog” has opened on Broadway.
The plot centers around the sibling rivalry between two brothers who were by their father named Lincoln and Booth as a joke. Lincoln works at an arcade impersonating President Abraham Lincoln and Booth is a card hustler. The brothers are played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Booth) and Corey Hawkins (Lincoln).
Abdul-Mateen says he was drawn to the story of two Black men fighting to succeed.
"He gets to be a troublemaker," says Abdul-Mateen, of his character. "I have to be responsible most of the time… so it's fun to go get to be a troublemaker in that role, a bit."
"I guess I'm a troublemaker in life so maybe it's the opposite,” says Hawkins. "I think the fact that Lincoln is an observer and a caretaker first and foremost, the love the he has to push down, the demons that he wrestles with every day."
Hawkins has starred in films including “In the Heights” and “Straight Outta Compton.” Abdul-Mateen started in HBO’s “The Watchmen” and is set to reprise his role as Black Manta in the DC Extended Universe “Aquaman” sequel.
They are taking on their current roles in the first Broadway revival of “Topdog/Underdog” written by Suzan Lori Parks. The play first ran on Broadway in 2002.
Tony Award winner Kenny Leon directed this production. It is scheduled to run at the Golden Theatre through mid-January.