The Dayton Theatre Guild wraps us its season with Tracy Letts‘ ‘Superior Donuts.’ The show focuses on a Polish loner who keeps his tight grip on what is referred to as the last donut shop in the Northern Part of Chicago. The show opens with a trashed donut shop that will set the stage for reckonings of all kinds, with all kinds!
Arthur P (played marvelously by KL Storer) knows the world around his shop is changing but can’t be nudged to do the same. Enter Franco Wicks (you will feel the energy change when Andre Tomlinson appears on stage in the role, wow!) who tries to put a shot in the arm of the shop as well as the grumpy Mr. P. It is these 2 and their interaction that really keeps you engaged with this production. Their vulnerability is believable, and more-so when they are on the stage alone-together!
As they ‘come to terms’ with their pasts, and we see their future hopes unwind, we are moved from moments of high drama to almost sitcom like scenes. (Yes, the play was a movie and a pilot for just that!) Along the ride of these 2 characters we meet some gems. Mike Beerbower‘s Russian ‘enterpreneur’ has hilarious moments….the sweatsuit alone is laughable. One-liners delivered by Percy Vera (Officer Bailey) and Heather Martin (Officer Osteen) are initially shocking, and then keep the humor alive, in moments of otherwise deep thought. Martin’s first few lines give you a sense of ‘where we are’ in Chi-Town. 
Throughout the show, we are thrust into some reminiscing that Letts felt necessary, but to be honest, it’s the present that makes us buy-in to these characters. Lady Boyle (played by Jennifer Lockwood) keeps us grounded in the fact that no one wants to see the shop close, but her expressions prepare us for what seems inevitable. Also wrapped into the story is Franco’s ‘bad decision’ to borrow money from the wrong guys….Maximillian Santucci‘s Luther Flynn is SPOT-ON!
Jared Mola, who directed ‘Donuts’, does a magnificent job of pacing the show! It’s one of those ‘quick’ and impactful 2 hour plays! Red Newman (Scenic Design) and Marjorie Strader (Lighting Design) delivered the goods as well. For my friend Amy and Me, the fight scene (nice work Kayla Graham) was well done…especially having the audience right on top of the action.
If you are a Letts fan, know this is not as extreme as some of his shows can go….it’s really about characters…with real, heartfelt issues to resolve. The Dayton Theatre Guild once again proves they are stellar in their desire to bring plays, worthy of seeing, to life in our town!
For information on ‘Superior Donuts’ and the GUILD, click here:
https://daytontheatreguild.org/production/superior-donuts/
