'Lobby Hero': Good cops vs. bad cops

‘LOBBY HERO’: Brian Tyree Henry & Chris Evans. Photo: Joan Marcus

LOBBY HERO 
Written by Kenneth Lonergan
Directed by Trip Cullman
Through May 13, 20 18
The Hayes Theater
240 West 44th Street
(212-239-6200), www.2ST.com

By David NouNou

Playwrights Horizons first presented Kenneth Lonergan’s Lobby Hero in 2001. However, its message and urgency seem more relevant today than they would have been back then. Dealing with lies, coverups, alibis, collusion, sexism, corruption; these are just on the surface. Underneath you are dealing with integrity and the abuse of power, the need for friendship and the betrayal that friendships sometimes bring. Heady topics indeed, but Mr. Lonergan’s gift of injecting humor in almost every line makes this a thought-provoking as well as a delightful evening in the theater.

Jeff (Michael Cera), a security guard in a high-rise who hates being called a doorman, is confronted by his supervisor William (Brian Tyree Henry) for being sloppy on the job, falling asleep on the night shift, inefficient and totally lacking any promise for the future. Jim is a talker and can delude and talk himself into anything. The two talk each other up, and in so doing, it reveals that William has a problem and their roles reverse. William confides in Jeff that his brother was involved with two other gang members in the murder and rape of a nurse in a hospital and stuffed her body in a closet. This involves family loyalty or standing for his integrity and telling the truth. Instead, William finds himself being used as an alibi to protect his brother.

Bill (Chris Evans) is a gorgeous sleazy policeman who can charm the dew off a honeysuckle tree. He is trying to put the moves on his rookie trainee and partner, Dawn (Bel Powley). He is Mr. Good Guy; years on the force have earned him badges and fame but underneath he is a manipulating snake. On this night he is enticing Dawn while he has a rendezvous with a lady on the 22nd floor in the high-rise. While Bill is busy doing his thing, Jeff, being attracted to Dawn, spills the beans on what Bill is doing on the 22nd floor. This devastates Dawn as she has fallen for him, reprimands him and by doing so, incites Bill’s wrath and he shows his true self.

It is at this point that Mr. Lonergan has set up the trap and we wait to see how allegiances will play out. The humor that is infused here is both funny and sad. As humorous as the lines are at any given moment, it underlines the shortcomings of each character. The show’s trump card is the four brilliant performances. Starting with Captain America, Chris Evans, he is a movie star and an action figure, but who would have dreamed he had such charisma and style? Most movie stars making their Broadway debuts are stiff and not in the best of sync. However, Mr. Evans is a pro on the stage. As charming and beguiling as he is in the beginning, he can be equally menacing and a scoundrel when he is backed against a wall. He knows how to command a stage.

Michael Cera, last seen in Mr. Lonergan’s This Is Our Youth, has a nebbishy presence but is always in command of his performance. Whether he is being scolded or befriending William or Dawn, he is in complete control of how he manipulates them. He is indispensable to the proceedings because he adds equal measure of loser and hopeful.

Brian Tyree Henry is excellent as the torn security captain between familial ties as well as his integrity. Bel Powley has the hardest part of juggling a female policewoman rookie who wants to do well but is caught up in the cogs of the system and she gives a lovely, nuanced performance of disciple and losing sight of what is right.

Trip Cullman has staged the proceedings in a well-balanced manner, unobtrusively splitting the serious and the humor in equal doses and moves his players with effortless ease. He is helped by David Rockwell’s wonderful revolving set where we get a different perspective of each character as the set moves to reflect each character’s perspective. Whichever perspective you choose, you can’t help but be invested in these characters and their outcome.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published March 30, 2018
Reviewed at press performance on March 29, 2018