Sue's News

Third Time’s Still a Charm

January 27th, 2009

By now, you’ve all heard about the Speed the Plow hub-bub…

And though it may have left the producers in a bind, it seems to have done something wonderful for the production… Given people the chance to witness three great actors take the same text and make it their own — proving how durable and flexible Mamet’s text is.

Ben Brantley’s latest critique of the show illuminates the point:

No, what truly impresses me is how each was able to provide a fully detailed, self-contained portrait that made me forget — at least for the length of the performances — all Bobbys past (including Joe Mantegna, who created the part 20 years ago).

For the record, Mr. Piven, Mr. Butz and Mr. Macy are nothing like one another. And while they have all spoken the same lines (more or less to the letter) and maintained the same essential, dizzying momentum, they have still created separate but equal Bobby Goulds who, every time, made me think about who exactly this guy was and where he was coming from.

In light of the favorable review, the biggest compliment to the work is that there’s room enough for the playwright’s voice, and those of the production’s actors, to shine through, and shine brightly.

Good show!

–Sue

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