And now he gets another platform during an election period.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
VernonGersch said: "David Mamet is one of the most horrible people both from a political stand point and creative perspective. The fact that Richards and Gold - not to mention Marber - are keen to dive into this play is a disgrace. I understand the economics of Broadway but surely there was another revival (god forbid taking a chance on a NEW play with that level of talent - minus Barr).
Mamet was always overrated in my opinion. From Speed The Plow to this to Oleanna. Hey, let's put some more white entitled men on stage....
His recent work out of LA got roasted over the coals because he is washed up POS playwright. And too bad Richards is going to be lining his TRUMPER pockets."
I agree he is a personally a POS, and I don't like much of his other works....but Glengary Glen Ross is a work of art. An almost perfect play.
When Broadway Lost The Gays...a case study of reviving GGR
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
Kad said: "And now he gets another platform during an election period."
The show isn't opening until 4 months after the election at the absolute earliest.
Press will begin sooner and there will be a new administration regardless.
I don't understand the level of hand-wringing that is happening here over Mamet's most famous play getting another revival, especially because, whether he intended it to be or not, it is essentially a satire of straight white men. The point is to laugh and cringe at how awful they are. This is why Kieran Culkin was cast - it's basically Succession with real estate salesmen.
Hard pass.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
Kad said: "And now he gets another platform during an election period."
Yeah. Because the country has been waiting with bated breath to know what David Mamet thinks, so they can make an informed decision on Election Day.
This thread, collectively, needs to loosen the clutch on their pearls.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/9/10
I read the only reason he gets his classics produced is because he has a new play/piece in the works. I bet an announcement comes soon of a new play premiering soon.
Understudy Joined: 10/8/18
Joviedamian said: "I read the only reason he gets his classics produced is because he has a new play/piece in the works. I bet an announcement comes soon of a new play premiering soon."
Right — didn’t that awful play with Patti LuPone and Debra Winger coincided with another Mamet revival?
Joviedamian said: "I read the only reason he gets his classics produced is because he has a new play/piece in the works. I bet an announcement comes soon of a new play premiering soon."
He has a decades-long relationship with the producer of this revival who has done all of his recent Broadway work. Whether he has a new play or not is probably irrelevant.
Maybe he wants “Bitter Wheat”, the play he did in London with John Malkovich “about” Harvey Weinstein to come here.
Jordan Catalano said: "Maybe he wants“Bitter Wheat”, the play he did in London with John Malkovich “about” Harvey Weinstein to come here."
This was my thought. It’s been said that if producers want his classic plays they need to commit to producing one of his new (bad) ones as well. Could be what’s happening here?
Broadway Star Joined: 1/21/20
IdinaBellFoster said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Maybe he wants“Bitter Wheat”, the play he did in London with John Malkovich “about” Harvey Weinstein to come here."
This was my thought. It’s been said that if producers want his classic plays they need to commit to producing one of his new (bad) ones as well. Could be what’s happening here?"
Be that as it may, I don't see any venue touching a Weinstein-by-way-of-Mamet production any time soon, especially given the tepid reviews. Maybe he has another new play in the works?
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
I wonder if the new play is the thing he just did in LA with Shia Labeouf...?
The classic / new work pairing thing seems to have been a thing in the late 00s and has fallen off with 2015’s China Doll, which wasn’t paired with a revival, and the 2022 American Buffalo revival, which wasn’t paired with a new work. Prior to that, though, there was a period where a revival and a new work were typically produced in close proximity, typically within a year (November/Speed-The-Plow/American Buffalo, in 2008, Oleanna/Race/Life in the Theatre, 2009-10, The Anarchist/Glengarry, 2012).
Edit: looking up those productions, I'm kind of struck by how unmemorable and, in fact, quite unsuccessful most of them were, despite all being anchored by big names. Out of those 8 productions across 4-ish years, it seems only Race, Glengarry, and Speed-the-Plow recouped. November had a decent run but closed at a loss, and Oleanna, Life, American Buffalo, and The Anarchist were not only flops but rather embarrassing ones.
Michael McKean is joining the production as George Aaronow.
Broadway Star Joined: 1/21/20
EDSOSLO858 said: "Michael McKean is joining the production as George Aaronow."
Interesting that they're going for a cast filled with actors primarily known for comedy. Wonder how that'll make Mamet's dialogue play differently compared to previous productions.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/16
KevinKlawitter said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Michael McKean is joining the production as George Aaronow."
Interesting that they're going for a cast filled with actors primarily known for comedy. Wonder how that'll make Mamet's dialogue play differently compared to previous productions."
The copy of the published script that I have describes the play as a comedy. I don't know if I'd call it that, but I believe what Vince Gilligan said about casting Odenkirk as Saul Goodman: "If you can do comedy, you can do drama. It's not always the other way around."
Absolute all-star cast so far.
Michael McKean is one of the smartest and most versatile men in entertainment. I passed up my last chance to see him on stage, but now I feel like I must.
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