West Coast Topdog Tour Stars Perrineau and Gilliard

By Robert Simonson
August 14, 2003

Harold Perrineau Jr. and Larry Gilliard Jr. will star in a mini-tour of Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog which will stop in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles this coming fall and winter. George C. Wolfe, the play's original director, helms the touring production.

Harold Perrineau, Jr., starred in Joe Penhall's Blue/Orange at Atlantic Theatre Company Off-Broadway last season, and recently appeared in The Exonerated. His film credits include "Smoke" and "The Matrix Reloaded." Gilliard has starred in filmdom's "Gangs of New York" and on television in "The Wire."

The drama concerns two brothers: Booth, a hopeful three card monte master; and Lincoln, who works at a side show which employs him as a shooting gallery target, dressed up like Honest Abe. Searching for direction and affection while living in a decrepit boarding house room, the siblings play out the symbolic and surreal power play set up by their weighted names.

Jeffrey Wright and Mos Def are currently recreating in London the two feuding brothers that they played on Broadway.

The West Coast tour will begin Sept. 4-26 at Seattle Repertory Theatre, continue in San Francisco Oct. 17-Nov. 16 and end at Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum Feb. 1-28, 2004.