Yesterday, I had the opportunity to see Speed the Plow which is currently playing at the New Rep in Watertown. For those who don't know, Speed the Plow was written by David Mamet who is most famous for his play Glengarry Glen Ross. Mamet's plays typically center around a high stress work place such as a producer's office in Hollywood, a real estate agency, or the oval office (just to name a few). His characters are ordinary people who become tragic due to their place of employment or work relations that push them to the extreme. Though I have seen three of his plays that all have this similar theme, I still found Speed to Plow to be extraordinary!
In regards to the plot, a movie producer named Gould is debating with his friend and colleague the importance of money versus art. Though the two agree that it is "art" thatis most important, it is clear that money is what rules both of their lives. The rising action occurs when Gould bets his friend that he won't be able to have sex with his new secretary. In order to bed her, Gould gives her a book that was given to him as a "courtesy read". The woman falls in love with the book and its message and convinces Gould to throw away his cynical view on art and Hollywood and produce the film. I will not go further with a summary for fear that I will ruin something.
As is typical with Mamet, the scriptis filled with swears and at times confusing conversations in which the characters talk extremely fast and cut each other off. However, it is all part of the show! And this production of Speed the Plow was a fantastic show! The play runs for an hour and a half with no intermission and have to say that at the end of the play I was even begging for more. Had an intermission been inserted, the stregnth of the play would have slacked and the final scene would not have been as riveting and influencial. The power of the entire play is centered on three characters and the actors and actress who were chosen for this production were flawless! They captured Mamet's language exquisitely while also embodying the characters to a tee. Mamet's plays are only as good as the actors in them, and I have to say that this was one of the strongest casts I have seen. The set and costumes were plain and sparse which were perfect for they did not distract the audience. Though the plot sounds tragic, and that's true!, it is also comedic. As is typical with Mamet, he pushes all of his characters to the extreme while still allowing them to possess an excellent sense of humor. Unlike other plays, the comic relief is built into the script and does not take place in its on separate scene or plot line. Instead, the characters are both tragic and comedic and have to embody other aspects. Though this can be extremely challenging, especially in only an hour and a half, the cast of the New Rep pulls it off spectacurlarly!
I would recommend this play to anyone! I would say that everyone should go and witness this genius playright with his exceptional cast. However, I understand that times are tough and people have to count their pennies. Therefore, I would recommend that you rent Wag the Dog. In this movie, Mamet takes on the movie industry once again in a tragic and comedic way that will have you hysterically laughing. It stars Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro and does not disappoint! (The cast also includes, Denis Leary, Kirsten Dunst, Anne Heche and Willie Nelson). The tale is one that we are all familar with, president has sex with a girl scout and the press will have a field day! However, the president's public relations has to keep the entire issue at bay. How do they do this? Hire Dustin Hoffman, a Hollywood movie producer, to create a war and convince the American public that it is real. Interestingly enough, this movie came out in 1997, a whole year before the Clinton and Lewinsky scandal broke. As is typical with Mamet, the film is as upsetting as it is humorous. I urge everyone to go out and watch it. It was change your view of movies, America, and prove Mamet's worth in our contemporary society.
-DLP
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