Evidence of Good

The Book of Grace

After a ten year estrangement, Buddy has been invited by Grace, his loving and optimistic stepmother, to come back home to South Texas. She’s hoping that a long-awaited reunion with his violent and bullying father, Vet, will patch up their mysterious longtime hostile relationship. The specific occasion for this homecoming is that Vet, a sadistic border patrol officer, is about to receive a medal for his work. And Vet’s proud of his apprehension and arrest of Mexican aliens, either trying to cross the border illegally or smuggling drugs into the country. 

His son Buddy is a young military veteran who’s earned his own medal for bravery. Suffering from PTSD and still emotionally damaged from the years of abuse he endured as a child, Buddy arrives with a footlocker filled with memories and (a foreshadowing alert) a stockpile of hand grenades. Buddy’s deeply conflicted. On one hand, he hopes that Vet can get him a job on his border patrol team, but the young man’s also hellbent on seeking revenge for the brutal treatment by his sadistic father.

The one shining “gold star” in this drama is the aptly-named Grace. She radiates so much sunshine, optimism and hope whenever she takes the stage. Although Vet is abusive toward and jealous of his second wife, she’s somehow been allowed to waitress at the local diner. But when Grace tried to take a night class to improve herself, Vet made her quit. When Grace had her eye on a pretty red dress in a store window, Vet wouldn’t let her buy it. And when Grace expressed a desire for reading material, Vet denied her that privilege. So Grace started writing her own book that she secretly keeps hidden beneath the floorboards so Vet won’t see it. It’s called THE BOOK OF GRACE and it’s filled with chapters and footnotes that offer testimony to her “evidence of good” in this world.

A prolific African-American playwright, Suzan-Lori Parks has not only written almost two dozen plays for the stage, she’s the author of four screenplays, a group of fascinating essays and a novel. In addition, Ms. Parks is the recipient of dozens of awards and accolades for her work, including being the first African-American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her 1999 play, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG. Her 2010 drama, THE BOOK OF GRACE, while not her most recent play, is considered a companion piece to the Pulitzer Prize-winner. It also feels especially timely, in many ways—particularly considering America’s abruptly-altered political climate regarding illegal immigrants.

Smoothly Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, the ensemble cast is stellar. Detroit actor, Brian Marable is fierce and frightening as Vet. Whenever this talented actor takes the stage it almost seems as if all the air leaves the room. So totally in character, Mr. Marable leaves audiences with the haunting specter of how a man’s aggressive and violent job can affect his psyche and taint his personal life. This is one performance that theatergoers won’t soon forget.

The gifted Namir Smallwood is absolutely one of my favorite Chicago actors. An Ensemble member, Mr. Smallwood has given riveting and arresting performances in so many Steppenwolf productions, such as THE SEAGULL, TRUE WEST, BUG and MONSTER. He recently projected his star power playing Kenneth in the Goodman’s excellent production of PRIMARY TRUST, as well as taking leading roles in The Gift Theatre’s presentation of THE GRAPES OF WRATH and at Writers Theatre, EAST TEXAS HOT LINKS. As Buddy, who adopts his father’s nickname, Snake, Namir portrays a sensitive, emotionally destroyed young man. Buddy’s suffering from years of childhood abuse by a domineering father, as well as by the stress accrued during overseas warfare. Buddy’s also haunted by what he believes may have happened to his mother.

But the bright light in this three-handed drama is Zainab Jah. As Grace, this winning Broadway and film actress brings so much cheerfulness, humor and hopeful optimism to this story. Indeed, while the stage feels like a life-sucking vacuum, whenever Vet is going berserk and threatening his wife and son, Grace is the embodiment of hope and joy. For this pretty, petite little lady, a loving character filled with brightness and buoyancy, the glass is always half full. This talented actress convinces us that, despite the misery and abuse she has to endure, life can still offer plenty of evidence of good.     

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented March 27-May 18 by Steppenwolf Theatre Company in the Ensemble Theatre space, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling audience services at 312-335-1650 or by going to www.steppenwolf.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by going to www.theatreinchicago.com in their Ensemble Theatre