The Artistic Home: Superior Donuts
John N. Williams, Scott Westerman
The Artistic Home Presents SUPERIOR DONUTS Review - But What If You Run Out of Donuts?
TLDR: A play for people who love Chicago institutions, Superior Donuts follows an unlikely friendship forming between a donut shop owner and a plucky college age kid. They both find ways to help each other grow and the cast finds ways to make us laugh out loud at their jokes and antics in this ultimately heartfelt play.
Kristin Collins, Scott Westerman
Waking Up to the Smell of Coffee and Crime
Our theatre at The Den has been transformed to be the interior of a well worn-in and beloved neighborhood institution. We’re greeted by the neon sign just through the entryway proclaiming “Superior Donuts.” Audience sections frame both sides of the galley staging where we’re able to peer into the donut shop itself. A red and yellow linoleum floor complements the faded red walls. All the furniture from the chairs and tables, to the counters, to the coffee machine look like they have been there since this shop opened.
But what should be a peaceful morning at a coffee and donut shop deep in Chicago winter is not what this scene looks like at all. The shop is in complete disarray with the chairs overturned, the glass pane on the front door shattered, and there’s a giant “PUSSY” spray painted on the wall. It’s a shocking scene for a donut shop and we drop right into the middle of the police investigation of the break-in. But what comes next is also unexpected. The owner seems unbothered at best and something seems off about his non-chalence.
An eyebrow raising start to Superior Donuts, but our proprietor and son of Polish parents, Arthur Pryszbyszewski (played by Scott Westerman), starts to fill in some of those blanks through pauses in the action. As time freezes around him, he tells us about the history of his father’s business, growing up in his household, and the current situation with his own family. He’s been moving through a haze for the past few years and needs something (or someone) to shake things up a bit.
Infectious Energy
Enter the most fast talking, energetic 21-year old you’ve ever met in your life. As soon as John N. Williams manages to finagle his way into the donut shop with the “Help Wanted” sign in hand, he soon finds a way to charm Arthur P. into giving him a job. Us audience members also can’t help but be taken by his positivity. As Franco, Williams shows us what it feels like to be unapologetically who you are. He speaks his mind about new ideas from the shop, he teases Arthur about not knowing any Black poets, and wants to know every part of the business including how to make the donuts themselves. He’s a smart and responsible kid with big dreams.
Westerman and Williams show us how even the most unlikely pair of people can form a deep and caring friendship. We find ourselves engrossed in their everyday lives and relationships with the other people in their neighborhood, with just enough conflict to keep us intrigued including a final ending scene where everyone lands themselves covered in flour. Each member of the cast pulls out some level of ridiculousness where we know not to take them too seriously that has us literally laughing out loud
Not to mention the countless Chicago references and inside jokes. (Though yet again, like with Ashland Avenue, this writer is disappointed there is not a single reference to Malört.) But for those Chicago lovers out there who love plays set in our city, you’ll have yourself looking like Leonardo DiCaprio in Wolf of Wall Street…
…as you recognize all that the play references from Historic Uptown, to Mayor Daley, to the lots of key events in Chicago’s history that have shaped our characters into who they are today.
Kristin Collins, Kevin Aoussou, Reid Coker
The After Party Thoughts
The beauty of Superior Donuts is there’s enough complexity to the characters and their conflicts for us to feel like we’re watching real people. We see the friendship that Williams and Westerman portray grow and feel genuine so we’re invested in what is going to happen to Arthur and Franco. And even with the conflicts (no spoilers!), it brings enough seriousness to balance out the jokes and levity that is the majority of Superior Donuts.
For those that like laugh out loud comedies, human interest plays, plays set in Chicago, and ones that involve both self-reflection and solving external conflicts, Superior Donuts would be a good fit for you!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Scott Westerman, John N. Williams
When
Now through December 6, 2025
Where
The Den Theatre
1331 N Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Runtime: 2hrs, including an intermission
Tickets
$20+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office 773-697-3830 or through the Den Theatre website
Photos
Joe Mazza
Reid Coker, John Wehrman
CAST
Scott Westerman (Arthur Pryszbyszewski)
John N. Williams (Franco Wicks)
Reid Coker (Max Tarasov)
Kristin Collins (Officer Randy Osteen)
Kevin Aoussou (Officer James Bailey)
Barbara Roeder Harris (Lady Boyle)
Adam Schulmerich (Luther Flynn)
Michael Bayler (Kevin Magee)
John Wehrman (Kirl Ivakin)
Christopher Donaldson (u/s Arthur Pryszbyszewski)
Harold Lloyd (u/s Franco Wicks)
Dakota Pariset (u/s Max Tarasov)
Nate Vangine (u/s Officer James Bailey)
Daphne Beckett (u/s Officer Randy Osteen)
Mary Mikva (u/s Lady Boyle)
John Dooley (u/s Luther Flynn)
Christopher Willumsen (u/s Kevin Magee, u/s Kirl Ivakin)
CREATIVE
John Mossman (Director)
Justice Ford (Assistant Director)
Eve Pahoresky (Stage Manager)
Michael & Mona Heath (Co-Producers)
Kevin Hagan (Scenic Design)
Petter Wählbäck (Sound Design)
Ellie Fey (Lighting Design)
Rachel Lambert (Costume Design)
Randy Rozler (Properties Design)
David Blixt (Violence Design)
Tom McNelis (Technical Director)