Straight White Men

Straight White Men

Second Stage Theater

The Helen Hayes Theater

Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

In Straight White Men Playwright Young Jean Lee takes an honest and severe look at the demographic in the title.  The Second Stage Theater production, now running on Broadway with an all-star cast, brings the humor and bravado to the surface so that when the cold truth hits, it packs a powerful punch.  Director Anna D. Shapiro allows the strength of the relationships to build the underlying conflict of each scene until it cannot be contained any longer.  When the harsh reality lies stark and hurtful in front of us, we are left with a deep feeling of compassion.

Jake (played by Josh Charles) and Drew (played by Armie Hammer) are home for the Christmas holiday.  Their older brother Matt (played by Paul Schneider) is living with their father, Ed (played by Stephen Payne).  The three brothers relive their competitive youth, teasing, bullying, wrestling, and quickly moving onto the next point of contention.  They reminisce about the lessons in social justice they were taught by their late mother.  The four men are all enjoying their holiday reunion until Matt breaks down crying during dinner.  Drew tries to address it.  Jake gives him space.  Ed denies it.  They finally join forces to help their sullen family member, and end up causing more harm than good.

Stephen Payne, Josh Charles, Armie Hammer, & Paul Schneider
Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

The skill level and chemistry of this cast is truly amazing.  Josh Charles and Armie Hammer have a tight connection as middle and younger brothers.  They are constantly calling each other “assholes” and eagerly live up to that title every minute.  Their cajoling, no matter how out of hand it gets, is always filled with love and respect.  As the family patriarch, Stephen Payne keeps his boys in check.  He is filled with warmth and admiration for all three of his sons.  Paul Schneider reveals the dark and pensive side of his character, but has no trouble joining in with the “asshole” antics of his younger brothers.  The tables turn on the fun when it is revealed how the competitive values engrained in these men can also cause them to turn their backs on one another in time of need.  Josh Charles, Armie Hammer, and Stephen Payne play these moments with powerful conviction.  They sincerely believe their words and actions come from a deep care and devotion toward their family member.  Paul Schneider creates a strikingly genuine moment of hurt and confusion as the reality of his abandonment sinks in.  This is the startling moment where playwright young Jean Lee shows the price of being raised as “straight white men.”  Director Anna D. Shapiro brilliantly leads us to this impactful understanding with every instant and action of the production.

Kate Bornstein, Armie Hammer, and Ty Defoe
Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

Kate Bornstein and Ty Defoe play “Person in Charge 1” and “Person in Charge 2.”  They have a curtain speech at the top of the show that is not part of the original script.  It clearly frames the action of the play and sets the audience up in the proper perspective.  They also move the actors into place during the scene changes with an omniscient presence.  This well-crafted concept is pushed even further with the actual frame around the proscenium that includes a brass name plate stating the title of the play.  This design, by Todd Rosenthal, clearly sets the audience up as observers of something in a museum art exhibit, as if we are watching something from the past, classic and outdated.  These are brilliant devices that pop the themes of Young Jean Lee’s potent writing.

Straight White Men is playing at the newly renovated Helen Hayes Theater through September 9.  It is a powerful production, boldly written, beautifully directed and expertly preformed.

Domenick Danza