AMERICAN BUFFALO Reviews- Page 4

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 5/13/22 at 3:45pm

MasterThespian 2 said: "Caught last night’s performance. Intense, raw, and extremely well done. Rockwell and Fishburne put on an acting clinic. Really enjoyed it."

!!!!

No lies told! I saw it last week and it's still making my head spin. Who knew a play with no sound design could do so much?!

Those actors are just on a set making magic with no tricks or gimmicks. It's WILD!

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 10:36pm

An awful play written by an awful person. 
 
Just because there is snappy dialogue doesn’t make a good play. There is barely a plot. The entire thing is an excuse for Mamet to use the following terms:

Dkk*e

Bull D*ke

F-*g

Fruit 

C*unt 

 

and multiple other terms. He is a disgusting person and should never  be produced on Broadway again.  

Updated On: 5/26/22 at 10:36 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/26/22 at 11:08pm

But the set was pretty right? 

[MasterThespian 2]

Posted: 5/27/22 at 10:06am

Matt Rogers said: "An awful play written by an awful person.

Just because there is snappy dialogue doesn’t make a good play. There is barely a plot. The entire thing is an excuse for Mamet to use the following terms:

Dkk*e

Bull D*ke

F-*g

Fruit

C*unt



and multiple other terms. He is a disgusting person and should never be produced on Broadway again. "

Sounds like you’re incapable of separating the artist from the art. You clearly dislike Mamet’s politics, so you’re taking it out on this production. 

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 5/27/22 at 1:00pm

MasterThespian 2 said: "Sounds like you’re incapable of separating the artist from the art. You clearly dislike Mamet’s politics, so you’re taking it out on this production."

I normally have no problem separating the artist from the art when the artists are long gone (Wagner and his operas are a prime example), but when they are very much alive and kicking, spewing hatred and intolerance, all the while making money from audiences who continue to support their art, it becomes a much tougher call. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/27/22 at 4:51pm

Matt Rogers said: "An awful play written by an awful person.

Just because there is snappy dialogue doesn’t make a good play. There is barely a plot. The entire thing is an excuse for Mamet to use the following terms:

Dkk*e

Bull D*ke

F-*g

Fruit

C*unt



and multiple other terms. He is a disgusting person and should never be produced on Broadway again. "
 

As a gay man who has been referred to by some of these terms with quite a bit of frequency in my life, I’m more than capable of understanding the time period and context in which the play (written in 1975, mind you) takes place.

Even my mother, freakishly liberal Debbie Novotny PFLAG mom that she is, acknowledges that these slurs were often bandied around without a second thought during that time (she was in high school then). Did it make it right then? No. But considering the characters (mainly Teach - who uses the lions share of the slurs) are lowlifes and/or shady, I’m not expecting them to have pristine language when talking about other people.

 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/29/22 at 11:30am

After the disastrous 2008 revival, I was really worried I wouldn't like the play, even with all the talent involved. Thankfully, I was proven wrong.

Saw the show last night from first row of the 400 section. Thanks to all who mentioned that the odd-numbered side is better, it's a really awesome view, especially towards the climax, which happens basically right in front of you. (And thanks to the show's social media covering the performance, I now have proof I was practically onstage at their curtain call.)

I didn't realize until I was re-reading the reviews today that there's no sound design to speak of. Kudos to having theatre-trained actors onstage because they were as loud and crisp as anything I've seen in recent memory.

Rockwell and Fishburne were just remarkable. From the slow burn of one to the firecracker of another, the way they volleyed back and forth was just delicious. Every time I think of one, I have to think of the other. Rockwell deserved that Tony nod, and Fishburne really deserved one as well.

I can kind of understand the initial criticisms on Criss' performance, because it is so different from the other two, but maybe because he's had a few months in the role, I thought he was wonderful. A great contrast to the big performances by going small, it's so hard to believe this was the same actor who had energy to burn as Hedwig not that long ago! 

I do wish at time the play slowed down a bit to let some of the darker moments linger, but you can't fault the director for wanting to showcase the energy in the words. It felt like the play had so much dialogue and yet felt like it was over before it started, and I actually wanted more.

And again, that set. Being first row, and seeing all the detail, arranged to create this incredible interactive maze for this mice to run through, it's really the fourth character in the show, and wish it got the Tony.

[betyourass]

Posted: 6/29/22 at 11:59am

Could not agree more @everythingtaboo - Absolutely loved this production. The play itself is fine, you can understand why it was such a moment when it was first done. To see these actors in such an intimate space is so incredible. I was so lost in their naturalistic performances at times I had to remind myself I was at a play and not in Don's shop. Really want to go back and see it again if I can. 

[yyys]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 5:11pm

Is 400 section, odd numbered seats good or even are better?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 11:03pm

yyys said: "Is 400 section, odd numbered seats good or even are better?"

I was in 401 section and I think it's better. The tend to cheat more in that direction when they're looking upstage, and you're on the side of the counter where most of the climax happens.

(Slightly spoilery: I was in A401 and right up close to watch Darren sneak the blood onto his ear and toss  the packet aside.)

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 7/5/22 at 12:02am

Was just reading about an exchange at a NYC airport today between Keanu Reeves and a young fan, and, apparently, Neo will be seeing Morpheus in American Buffalo this week.

Updated On: 7/5/22 at 12:02 AM