David Bianculli

The creators of American Classic are Michael Hoffman and Bob Martin.

Martin wrote and created Slings and Arrows, so that comparison comes easily.

But back in the early 1980s, Who Am I This Time?

was about people who transformed onstage from ordinary citizens into extraordinary performers.

It's a conceit that works only if you have brilliant actors to bring it to life convincingly.

That American Playhouse production had two young actors named Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon.

So, yes, it worked.

An American classic with its mix of veteran and young actors works, too.

American Classic begins with Kevin Kline as Shakespearean actor Richard Bean confronting a New York Times drama critic about his negative opening night review of Richard's King Lear.

The next day, Richard's agent, played by Tony Shalhoub, calls Richard in to tell him his tantrum was captured by cell phone and went viral, and that he has to lay low for a while.

As Richard processes that news, his own cell phone vibrates.

When he takes the call, he learns more bad news.

And we learn just how self-obsessed Richard can be.

Mom's dead.

John.

Richard returns home to the small town of Millersburg, where his parents ran a local theater.

Almost everyone we meet is a treasure.

His father, who has bouts of dementia, is played by Lynn Cariou, who starred on Broadway in Sweeney Todd.

Richard's brother, John, is played by John Tenney of The Closer, and his wife, Kristen, is played by the great Laura Linney from Ozark and John Adams.

As soon as Richard arrives in Millersburg to attend his mother's funeral, his brother makes it complicated.