Downstate – A

Everything we hope to find in the theater, as most commonly found Off-Broadway: thought-provoking subject, great ensemble acting, honest dialogue, gripping story and tragic, but not sad, ending. The subject was how the American justice system treats convicted sex offenders: it presented the raw deal they get, while acknowledging the pain they cause. But regardless of the subject, the play’s strength was the ensemble acting of the four offenders forced to share a home: a white man in a wheelchair, a repressed Latino, a sensitive gay Black and a smooth-talking Black hustler. Each was excellent, and their four-way dynamic made the stage of Leopoldstadt seem that much more crowded. Coming off productions in Chicago (Steppenwolf) and London (National Theatre), they were at the top of their game. I loved every minute.