Forget the CBS comedy series of the same title. The play that inspired it exists on a higher plane. Unlike Letts’ darker and better-known plays, this one is a bit of a bonbon—a heart-warmer with an optimistic soul. The story: an ageing white doughnut shop owner hires a young black gambling addict who wants to write the Great American Novel. So the themes you might expect—race, addiction, the bridging of generations—are all here, but there’s also a poignant portrait of a Chicago community in flux. This type of life-affirming story won’t change the world, but it might make you care a little more for your fellow man. For that, it deserves an emphatic two thumbs up. Reviewed on Feb. 18, 2021