'Detroit'

Three years ago, we were asking, "Where in the world is Detroit?" It was then the drama of that title was hopscotching about the globe in noteworthy productions (Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, Royal National Theatre in London, Playwrights Horizons in New York City), racking up critical acclaim and significant honors for both play and playwright Lisa D'Amour: short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award for Best New American Play, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist, co-recipient of the Steinberg Playwright Award. Since D'Amour honed her dramaturgical skills in our town in the late Nineties and early Aughties (The Shape of Air, 16 Spells to Charm the Beast, Nita & Zita, Anna Bella Eema, Slabber, Dress Me Blue/Window Me Sky), we were especially eager to see Detroit in Austin.

This week, we finally can. Capital T Theatre, purveyor of such sharp and sharply funny contemporary drama as There Is a Happiness That Morning Is, The Motherfucker With the Hat, and Killer Joe, is staging the backyard clash between a middle-class couple and their recovering addict neighbors with Jason Phelps and Rebecca Robinson as the former and Joey Hood and Rebecca Pearcy as the latter. To learn about D'Amour and this play's remarkable journey, as well as her feelings about her time making theatre in Austin, check out Adrienne Martini's 2012 interview with her ("From Nothing to Bounty," Oct. 19, 2012).

Detroit runs Aug. 21-Sept. 20, Thursday-Saturday, 8pm, at Hyde Park Theatre, 511 W. 43rd. For more information, call 512/479-7529 or visit www.capitalt.org.