Theater Review: 'The Hot Wing King' at Hartford Stage

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

“The Hot Wing King” is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by Katori Hall, the author of “The Mountaintop” and the book writer of “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.” Hall won the 2021 Pulitzer for “The Hot Wing King” and was nominated for two Tony Awards for “Tina.”

Hartford Stage, in association with Baltimore Center Stage, is presenting a production of the play, under the direction of Christopher D. Betts, through March 24. Betts directed “Trouble in Mind” last season at Hartford Stage and holds a Masters degree in Directing from Yale School of Drama. He recently directed “Photosynthesis” at Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals.”

The playwright, who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, was inspired by her brother Wayne, who shares a home with his barbecue chef partner. In the show, Wayne becomes Dwayne and the chef becomes Cordell, an up and coming chicken wing fryer.

In her dramaturg note for StudioTheatre’s 2023 production, Francesca Sabel writes that “with these real and beloved individuals in mind, it was important to Hall that the play–groundbreaking for it joyful portrayal of gay Black me–should be less about their sexuality and more ‘about them being human,’ messing up but also loving and supporting each other.” The playwright set out to give audiences “my people’s humanity” and the beautifully drawn characters do that with plenty of energy and heart.

Melia Bensussen, the sixth artistic director at Hartford Stage and the first woman, writes that in the story the guys strive to win the hot wing competition “and in turn learn what winning is really about: the importance of the families we inherit, and those we choose, to our happiness.”

The all-Equity cast, all in the Hartford Stage debuts, could not have been more effective as their well-drawn characters and it was a pleasure to watch them tell their stories. Bjorn DuPaty plays the hot wings chef Cordell. Calvin M. Thompson brings to life the role of Dwayne. DuPaty and Thompson reprised their roles from the regional premiere of the play at Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. Thompson also appeared in Hall’s “The Mountaintop” with Lean Ensemble.

Israel Erron Ford is fierce (and very funny) in the role of Isom. Ford appeared in “Choir Boy” at Yale Rep. and earned his MFA in Acting at Yale School of Drama.

Marcus Gladney, Jr. plays the young Everett “E.J.” Postell Pringle, who was in “Good Night, Oscar” with Sean Hayes on Broadway, portrays the big personality of “Big Charles.”

Calvin M. Thompson brings to life the role of Dwayne. Thompson appeared in “The Hot Wing Kings” at Alliance Theatre and “The Mountaintop” with Lean Ensemble. Alphonso Walker Jr. plays the somewhat unsympathetic role of TJ.

The scenic design by Wesleyan and Yale School of Drama graduate Emmie Finckel is impressive in design and scope and is lit well by Adam Honore. Costume design by Jahise LeBouef (“Trouble in Mind”) perfectly suits the characters, with the bedazzled ensemble both “extra” and fabulous. Cynthia Santos DeCure, an associate professor of acting at Yale Drama, worked with the cast as dialect and voice coach. I had some difficulty understanding some of the lines, especially if the speaker was facing away from my section of the audience, but I was still able to follow along.

I enjoyed this performance for its realness and its humor. The show is presented with one intermission. The script contains some foul language and there are some sexual situations. Hartford Stage is located at 50 Church Street in Hartford.

Next up on this stage will be “All My Sons,” directed by Bensussen and featuring Marsha Mason and Michael Gaston, running Apr. 11-May 5. Hartford Stage will host its 60th Anniversary Gala “Diamonds & Decades” on May 11, a one-night event featuring a musical performance by the legendary Andre De Shields.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.

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