In the truly amazing
Between Riverside and Crazy, the wonderful Stephen Adly Guirgis signals us quickly that all is not what it seems. Pops, the old man in the wheelchair, is neither ill nor injured. The people who call him "Dad" are not his children. And the one-line description that is being widely used to descibe the play ("
Between Riverside and Crazy centers on a retired policeman threatened with eviction and his extended family and friends") barely scratches the surface of this funny, fascinating, insightful, and surprising examination of truth, love, family, racism, loyalty, and the law. (I am not going further into the plot because I don't want to spoil anything.)
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Stephen McKinley Henderson, Liza Colon-Zayas
Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia |
Stephen Adly Guirgis is a superb playwright. He should be mentioned with Albee and Stoppard among the living greats. Why?
- A great playwright presents three-dimensional people and lets us see what makes them tick--and makes us care about what makes them tick. Check.
- A great playwright uses language that is simultaneously lyrical yet real. Check.
