Riverwalk’s ‘Clybourne Park’ is no walk in the park

Since the dawn of storytelling, conflict has been a necessary ingredient. Bruce Norris’ “Clybourne Park” is packed with conflict and tension from start to finish. Think of Riverwalk Theatre’s current black box show as an episode of “All in the Family,” but without the copious laughs. 

“Clybourne Park” opens in a mid-20th-century suburban Chicago home with a bickering couple, Bev and Russ, authentically performed by Joyce Kramer-Cox and Mike Stewart. It becomes obvious that a family tragedy has a lot to do with why they are so short tempered. And when Pastor Jim (played with the perfect amount of awkwardness by Ayden Soupal) visits their home to “help,” conversations become even more heated and profane.

Emotions rise to a peak when Karl (a distraught neighbor masterfully played by Joe Clark) rants and fumes about the sale of Bev and Russ’ house. It’s then confirmed that the central issue of the show is racism.

Until then, Francine (Paule Justin), the Black maid, and her husband, Albert (Jordan Taylor), are mostly overly polite bystanders. When the couple convincingly begins to flinch at dialogue peppered with racist comments, the audience cringes along with them.

Karl’s rudeness to his deaf and timid wife (persuasively portrayed by Sarah Lehman) is also difficult to witness. The increasing hostility between Francine and Albert on one side and Bev and Russ on the other amplifies the discomfort.   

After experiencing such an intense hour of conflict and odious remarks, the 20-minute intermission is a welcome respite. 

The second hour takes place in the remains of the house, 50 years later. The set is altered significantly, and the cast masterfully assumes very different roles. The friction between the couples and the underlying stench of racism still dominate their banter, but this time, a white couple is the target.

If that isn’t enough to process, the show ends with a flashback to the family tragedy. As the son, Soupal manages to add sorrow to an already long list of uncomfortable emotions. But despite a heart-wrenching tragedy and sometimes cruel characters with repulsive prejudices, Riverwalk’s “Clybourne Park” is a must see.

Sure, it can be incredibly hard to sit through, and its story can be bothersome — but that’s the point. The play is meant to disturb. It’s also meant to teach. And with genius dialogue that often wanders in cleverly annoying directions and superb actors who expertly embody their characters (including just-right facial expressions), the production is award worthy.

“Clybourne Park” may not be a sitcom with lots of lighthearted moments that suit canned laughter. But it has all the makings of good theater: powerful acting, direction, script and set. And, of course, conflict.