"High mercury levels" force Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW
"High mercury levels" force Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#1"High mercury levels" force Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW
Posted: 12/17/08 at 3:06pm
A diagnosis of "high mercury count" has forced Jeremy Piven to abruptly exit the Atlantic Theatre Company's Broadway production of David Mamet's SPEED-THE-PLOW, directed by Neil Pepe.
"I talked to Jeremy on the phone and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury," David Mamet told Variety. "So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."
"The good news is that some really great actors will be helping out and stepping in, which to me is a sign of great heroism and friendship," said Mamet, who declined to name the replacement.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997561.html?categoryid=15&cs=1
Updated On: 12/17/08 at 03:06 PM
#2re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 3:11pmHm. That's too bad. I hope it doesn't impact ticket sales too much, but I would think he was the major draw for a segment of the audience.
#2re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 3:16pm
Call me cynical, but I have to wonder just what sort of illness is so awful that his doctors insist he won't recover for two months (that's how much is left of the STP run).
Or is Piven just sick of live theater acting?
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#3re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 3:20pmOh well...I still haven't seen it and I wanted to see him. I guess I'll wait a little to see if he comes back. But I'll still catch the show...I hope he comes back and is alright.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#4re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 3:28pm
Piven isn't Terrance Howard. Piven has done NY theater before, his parents were actors, acting teachers; he's appeared on stage with them. He knew what he was getting into.
My money is on exhaustion, physically and mentally. Chronic fatigue syndrome.
#5re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 3:34pmDid this illness just hit him? I saw him on Extra over the weekend and he seemed fine.
Just give the world Love.
#6re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 3:36pmYeah, but he hasn't done it for a long time. It's Mamet, and pretty intense Mamet at that. Maybe he got overwhelmed.
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
bossbear062
Understudy Joined: 9/5/08
#7re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 3:44pmyea..when i saw the show about 2 weeks ago he did a great job in the show..but after when he made the EFA speechand was out of character you could just tell he winded and exsausted and just ready to collapse
#8re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 4:20pm
Dude, it's an 85-minute play. Yes he's onstage for most of it but seriously, it is not a hard job. I would love to get paid what he's getting to work only sixteen hours a week.
If he really is ill, I feel terrible for him and wish him a speedy recovery. If he is just suffering from "exhaustion" however, he is a total p*ssy.
esparza 333
Broadway Star Joined: 7/24/07
#9re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 4:29pmIt might be an 85 minute play but is very powerful and the energy on that stage needs to be tremendous. This makes the job much harder. I hope Jeremy recovers. That really sucks.
Current Avatar:The sensational Aaron Tveit in the soon to be hit production of Catch Me If You Can.
#10re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 4:33pmIf he is suffering from exhaustion he should talk to Michael Cerveris, who never missed a performance as Sweeney Todd, which is probably about three times more exhausting than Bobby Gould in Speed the Plow.
#11re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 4:33pmDang it! That is not the best news for me. I was planning on seeing this when I come to NY in February. Or, rather - scratch that. I still plan on seeing it just for the chance to see Esparza in something. But still, Piven being out is kind of disappointing to me. I've like the guy since Ellen!
#12re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 4:43pmIf he is indeed out permanently, they will whip up some sort of star (or semi-star) replacement. The producers are probably making phone calls right now.
WestVillage
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/05
#13re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 4:49pm
"If he is suffering from exhaustion he should talk to Michael Cerveris, who never missed a performance as Sweeney Todd, which is probably about three times more exhausting than Bobby Gould in Speed the Plow."
How about a conversation with 82 year old Estelle Parsons whose show is 3 1/2 hours long? If anyone should be exhausted, its her!
HollyDiver
Stand-by Joined: 9/2/08
#15re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:08pmMeh, I am cynical so my guess is that he is 'over it', but really we can't say anything until official word is out. Fantasia got a lot of sh*t for missing dates in The Color Purple, and that turned out to be very legit.
I'd rather be reckless than rockless.
#16re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:13pmMaybe he injured his foot while fooling around with his male costar in the dressing room.
Do you know what happens when you let Veal Prince Orloff sit in an oven too long?
#17re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:17pm
If he really is out for good, maybe they can find someone to take over the part?
I wonder if Jeff Goldblum is available?
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
Morgaine885
Featured Actor Joined: 4/4/06
#18re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 5:31pm
http://gothamist.com/2008/12/17/jeremy_pivens_doctors_urge_him_to_q.php
Seriously...I think what they say here about Raul is absolutely true. I hope that the show is going to be okay for everybody else's sake. With a great replacement, it will definitely continue to do well.
#19re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 6:13pm
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997561.html?categoryid=15&cs=1
He's gone for good. And Mamet isn't happy.
#20re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 6:20pmDamn. I kept putting off seeing this show, and now I'm going to miss Piven.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
StageFan2
Broadway Star Joined: 4/8/07
#21re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 6:23pm
Seems he has a high mercury level. According to an article in variety;
"Jeremy Piven will abruptly end his run in Broadway's "Speed-the-Plow," after missing Tuesday evening's performance and a Wednesday matinee.
According to sources, Piven has informed the producers that he hasn't been feeling well and that the condition is attributable to a high mercury count.
The show's producers weren't returning calls, but Daily Variety reached out to David Mamet, who wrote the showbiz satire and seemed less than convinced by Piven's departure.
"I talked to Jeremy on the phone and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury," Mamet said. "So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."
https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997561.html?
Piven
EDIT - Sorry for the duplication. Looks like jay and I posted at the same time. 
Updated On: 12/17/08 at 06:23 PM
#22re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 6:27pm
Piven did a profile in the Times, and he sounded absolutely exhausted. I can relate- I'm the same way right now- very busy (in a good way) but totally exhausted and unable to take any time for myself, albeit on a much smaller scale.
I'm pretty sure he went right from shooting Entourage to Speed, so he probably just collapsed.
But high mercury count? That's serious. Mercury is no laughing matter, and I could totally understand why he would want to dip out- mercury is a very harmful toxin. If there is exposed mercury in that theatre, he (and everyone else) needs to get out fast.
That said- Mamet's thermometer line was hilarious.
#23re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 6:30pm
"high mercury count"?? WTF is this - some kind of bizarre joke?
However, this comment from Mamet is quite intriguing:
"The good news is that some really great actors will be helping out and stepping in, which to me is a sign of great heroism and friendship," said Mamet, who declined to name the replacement.
I already suggested Jeff Goldblum - anybody want to toss some other names into the hat?
Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.
#24re: Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW indefinitely?
Posted: 12/17/08 at 6:45pmGoldblum would make sense because he knows the part. Otherwise... Liev Schreiber?
"My name's Lenny. What's yours?"
Videos