Article updated: 1/10/2013 6:28 AM

Fine acting defines Steppenwolf's revival of urban 'Hat'

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John Ortiz stars as Jackie, an ex-con trying to negotiate sobriety and a relationship with his childhood sweetheart in Steppenwolf Theatre's Chicago area premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis' "The (expletive) with the Hat."

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TV and stage veteran Jimmy Smits, left, plays Ralph D., AA sponsor to John Ortiz's ex-con Jackie in Stephen Adly Guirgis' "The (expletive) with the Hat," running through March 3 at Steppenwolf Theatre.

Demons and dysfunction aside, childhood sweethearts Jackie (John Ortiz) and Veronica (Sandra Delgado) cannot get enough of each other in Steppenwolf Theatre's "The (expletive) with the Hat."

Gary Perez, right, nearly steals the show as the unfailingly decent Julio, cousin to the recovering addict Jackie (John Ortiz) in director Anna D. Shapiro's production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' "The (expletive) with the Hat" at Steppenwolf Theatre.

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One thing about the provocative title of Stephen Adly Guirgis' “The (expletive) with the Hat,” it minces no words. “It announces itself,” agreed Martha Lavey, artistic director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. “You can't walk in surprised.” No indeed. And Steppenwolf Theatre delivers a stunning Chicago-area premiere of this funny and unflinching urban fable about addiction and sobriety, love and jealousy, trust and betrayal.