'Superior Donuts' Inspires Sweet Reunion

When Geffen Playhouse artistic director Randall Arney found out that the rights to Tracy Letts' play Superior Donuts were available for a Los Angeles production, he decided he wanted it.

"I was really excited," Arney said. "And then to [get to] enjoy a reunion with Gary." 

Gary would be actor Gary Cole, who plays the lead in the show, doughnut shop proprietor Arthur Przybyszewski.

Cole and Arney have known each other for almost 30 years, going back to when the two worked together at the famed Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Letts came to Steppenwolf somewhat later, and all three worked together and remain members of the company.

"I've known [Randy] forever it seems," Cole said. "We had a great time working. It was almost like working in Chicago."

Most people know Cole from his signature roles in the movie Office Space and the TV shows Entourage and The West Wing. Although he's also done quite a bit of stage work, most recently appearing in another Letts play, August: Osage County in London and Australia. 

He's been a fan of Letts' work for a long time.

"I think he's an exceptional writer and that's really the bottom line. It's what any actor is looking for," Cole said. "It's probably the easier job, but it's the more satisfying."

Superior Donuts is set in a run-down doughnut shop in Chicago, owned by Przybyszewski (Cole), a disaffected man who is suddenly confronted by the young dreamer Franco, played by Edi Gathegi, currently gaining notice as vampire Laurent in the Twilight movies. 

"It's about family reforming itself in many ways," Arney said about the play, which he is also directing. "There's a real sense of community."

Arney said Przybyszewski is like many men who are now in their 60s and are still dealing with the politics of the Vietnam War.

"There's a whole generation of guys that are on a bit of a sidetrack because of decisions they made when they were 20 years old," Arney said.

He decided to offer the role to Cole after discussing casting options with Letts.

"Interestingly, we both came up with Gary right off the bat," Arney said.

Superior Donuts runs through July 10. Tickets are $47 to $77 and are available at the box office, by phone at  310-208-5454 or online at 
www.geffenplayhouse.com