rOcKS @ 'Speed-the-Plow' (updated with thoughts on Macy)

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/9/09 at 11:38am

I'll keep this relatively short because I'll basically be echoing mostly everyone else's opinions.

This revival of SPEED-THE-PLOW has no right being as fantastically entertaining as it is. Mamet's text is strong but nowhere near some of his other masterful work; it has it's moments but it is flawed. This revival does what revivals of other "fine" shows should do. It is so strongly directed, so brilliantly acted, and so well-crafted that it makes the text's flaws virtually ignorable and it's strengths are highlighted. Neil Pepe's whip-smart, incredibly snappy direction suits the material beautifully; it's one of the best-directed Mamet shows I've seen in some time. He really knows how to handle this very fragile material that could simply (especially in that first scene) fall apart if a beat is missed or someone has their back turned on the audience at the wrong second.

Then there is the trio of great performances from Elizabeth Moss, Raul Esparza, and Norbert Leo Butz. This is Butz's second best performance I've seen (DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS obviously being number one). He has mastered this role in such a short amount of time and is truly fantastic. Moss makes a strong Broadway debut but at times seems a bit in over her head especially because she is flanked by two Broadway leading men. She does a very good job but she is outshone by her castmates. Then, of course, there is Raul Esparza who is just as good as everyone has been saying he is. He is an incredible talent, delivering yet ANOTHER Tony-worthy performance and this time I think he'll get it. He steals the show out from under everyone else within the first five minutes of his entrance.

This current revival of SPEED-THE-PLOW was, by far, the fastest time I've ever spent in a theater. It went by incredibly quickly but I enjoyed every minute of it. It's a fantastic production of a good but not great play with some really great performances. The second the lights go down, you can barely come up for air; the show is so fast-paced and well-performed, and when the lights come up and it's time to leave the Barrymore theater, you are exhausted from watching such a rollercoaster of a show.

I'm going to see SHREK tonight and hoping Sutton isn't sick anymore...I'll be sure to post a review later!
Updated On: 1/21/09 at 11:38 AM

[Tevye the Dairyman]

Posted: 1/9/09 at 12:21pm

i saw the show last week on saturday and i was not as impressed with Moss as you seemed to be...i expected the show to have the non-stop pace one expects from a Mamet play (and that i get from reading this one in particular) but i found that the play's pace took a nose dive in the second act. The dialogue seemed to become rambling and actually quite dull. It was evident to me that Moss did not win over Butz's Bobby in this scene, so he simply kept playing it with the subtext of (SPOILER?) mildly wanting to have sex with her to win the bet. This led to Butz's attitude in the third act making little sense for me...still a good production but esparza gave the only performance that seemed to did complete justice to the text...IMO

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 11:30pm

I went back this evening and have to say I was let down very much. William H. Macy is TERRIBLY miscast...he's not young enough, he's not funny enough, he (oddly) doesn't seem comfortable with the material. That was the main reason I was let down...the theater was about 40% full and the audience was terrible...not into it, not laughing, not entertained, and not only didn't give a standing ovation but gave (at best) respectably quiet applause that didn't even warrant the second curtain call that is given.

Raul Esparza was even better than I remembered and it's probably because Macy isn't as good in the role as Butz was and his performance is (if this is possible) more urgent and that much more incredibly powerful now. Elisabeth Moss was great this time around and has improved.

The main issue though is Macy. He's a fantastic performer but this is simply an example of someone doing a favor for a friend (Mamet being the friend) and not even being thought of as possibly unsuitable for the role. Which he is. He was a huge letdown and the show suffered because of it.

Updated On: 1/22/09 at 11:30 PM

[wonkit]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 11:58pm

I posted on another STP thread about today's matinee, and had the opposite reaction. The play is not as laugh out loud funny as it was with Piven but the audience at the matinee was very attentive. I haven't seen a standing ovation for any STP performance I've been at - sorry you didn't like it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 12:06am

I find that at straight plays, audiences are FAR more discriminating about standing ovations. In recent memory, I can only remember one for August: Osage County. (Musicals: folks stand for all sorts of drek.)

Additionally....small audiences are often quiet. It's uncomfortable for them which also leads to cc reactions.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 12:33am

I agree about smaller audiences being less responsive but at every play I've been to (that I can recall) there has been a standing ovation. And this is an excellent one. It is just being bogged down now by a very much miscast lead performance.

But apparently, I'm in the minority in thinking that...although everyone I went with was equally underwhelmed by Macy. Maybe it was just tonight...?

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 12:45am

I was at Norbert's last performance and there was a standing ovation at the second curtain call. I'm not sure if it was due to the fact that he was given flowers or not but still, the audience gave one.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 12:48am

There's been one every time I've seen it, and that number is more than I care to admit.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 12:59am

Yeah, when I saw it with Norbert, the audience leapt to their feet the second the lights came up for bows.

PS, Em, how many times? Now I'm curious haha!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 1:02am

Too many. Curiosity has gotten the better of me with all of the cast changes. All I will say is that I've seen all four Bobbys (Bobbies?).

Updated On: 1/22/09 at 01:02 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 1:06am

Who did you think was the best? Or more appropriately, your favorite?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 1:06am

Norbert, not an inkling of second thought.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 1:20am

Only saw Norbert, will see Macy soon. But, I have to say (and imagine my answer will be Norbert). I feel that Norbs was almost if not perfect as Bobby and the added playful and true relationship between him and Raul is unbeatable. So sad that he had such a short run!

[wonkit]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 12:39pm

Norbert was at the matinee yesterday! I guess showing up for half hour call is a habit for him -

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 3:34pm

What category will Raul be considered for come Tony nominations time?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 3:39pm

Probably Featured ... even though Ron Silver won Best Actor for playing Fox in the original production.

[wonkit]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 4:39pm

I wish I had seen Norbert later in his run as he was off book but still a little tentative at times. He and Raul certainly did play well together.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/22/09 at 8:20pm

Raul will be lead.