|
Speed the Plow at The Old Vic
Booking up to 28th April 2008
David Mamet is well known as a playwright, screenwriter
and screen director and for his plays has received award
nominations for Glengarry Glen Ross and
Speed the Plow.
There is often a focus on masculinity within his plays
and the clever, quick and sometimes angry dialogue
between his protagonists. There are unfinished sentences
and interruptions that make for quick fire conversations
or arguments. This style is illustrated beautifully in
the first scene in the Speed the Plow.
We have Charlie Fox, big time Hollywood movie Producer
played by Jeff Goldblum, dominating the conversation
with his subordinate Bobby Gould played by Kevin Spacey.
He frequently interrupts Gould's desperate attempts at
revealing some news. Eventually, after some hilarious
huffing and shuffling and facial contortion by Spacey,
Fox shuts up just enough to let Gould know that a huge
star is interested in one of 'their' scripts. It means,
blockbuster movie and huge profits for the two
Producers. They are like two excited schoolboys trying
to set up the all important meeting with the boss who
can say 'yes'. This is where Mamet's genius verbal
sparring is perfectly interpreted by these two seasoned
actors. They are planning and hatching and stroking each
other's ego but neither one is really saying anything it
all. There is so much energy and movement and the
excitement in Fox's office is really tangible.
Director Matthew Warchus must have rubbed his hands in
glee when he knew who his two male leads were going to
be and I think it is well cast with Goldblum playing the
calmer, more successful and brooding Fox with Spacey
unleashed as the highly sprung and somewhat arrogant
sidekick. This play is full of richly poignant, achingly
funny and desperately demeaning moments and for me, it
is Kevin Spacey who is the true artist giving life to
Mamet's words.
The set, though simple is nicely thought out and
uncomplicated and there is an easy transition from Fox's
office and scene I to his bedroom in scene II. After the
hilarity of the first scene, the mood changes as the
surprisingly naïve Fox tries to make a move on his
secretary Karen (played by Laura Michelle Kelly). It is
unusual for Mamet to give such lengthy speeches to his
female protagonist and although Laura Michelle Kelly
delivers her lines with conviction, I find the whole
scene too long.
Back to the office and scene III and the action returns
in verbal and physical violence. Fox has always been
Gould's nemesis but the two have remained close friends
as well as colleagues for years. This bond and their
shared history makes for such poignancy and passion in
this highly charged climatic scene.
Kevin Spacey seems to have persuaded audiences to return
to the Old Vic and is clearly enjoying his time on stage
as well as off. I would highly recommend that you
purchase theatre tickets to go and see this brilliantly
acted and brilliantly written play.
|
