Sorry for the language but it seemed appropriate given the subject matter. Which would be Glengarry Glen Ross by David "F*cking" Mamet. TL and I went to see the play last Saturday (3/20). It was over at the HotCity Theatre which is a very small (about 100 people) theater. And it was truly great.
Wikipedia summarizes better than I can:
Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1982 play written by David Mamet. The play shows parts of two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts—from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation, and burglary —to sell undesirable real estate to unwilling prospective buyers.The play also has approximately 150 uses of the F-word. And you might think that having one f*ck every 40 seconds might be just covering up a weak script, let me assure you it is not. The way the dialogue flows is a thing of beauty. And the acting, the acting here is first rate.
Before I talk about Hot City, let me say that I am a huge fan of the 1992 movie. I always thought that it was the best ensemble acting movie that I've ever seen. I mean the movie has Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris, and Alan Arkin. Oh, and did I mention Al Pacino? Not enough? Let's add on Jack Lemmon - and Jack Lemmon with a meaty part of an aging salesman on a losing streak. Not as merely a grumpy old man. If you have not seen it, I could not give the movie a higher recommendation.
And so, when the play started I would think ok that guy is Pacino, that guy is Lemmon. But quite quickly the individual Hot City actors occupied the characters all by themselves. And they were really good. Particularly Jerry Russo as Roma (Pacino) and Bobby Miller as Levine (Lemmon). In one bit they run a total scam on a prospective buyer. And it really looks like Roma and Levine (i.e. the characters) are living by their wits and improvising on the fly. But at the same time you can tell they have done this sort of thing before - many times. And when talking about the actors Russo and Miller, I think it must take a lot of work and practice together over a short rehearsal period to look like Roma and Levine have been working together for years.
Unfortunately, the Hot City production only runs until March 28th and I'm not exactly a high profile blogger, so anybody reading this probably won't get to see it there. But I would recommend seeing the play at a decent theater company if you can, or at the very least getting the movie.
As a favorite quote, I present one of my favorite scenes from the movie. Definitely NSFW. This is Al Pacino going off on the office manager Williamson (Kevin Spacey) after Williamson lets the buyer Pacino and Lemmon just scammed get away :
I particularly love the final line from Lemmon. I think it is even more devastating than the two minutes that Pacino just laid on him.
Bottom line: F'in great play, F'in great acting. Can't wait to see more at Hot City. I originally thought 4.5 TKs out of 5 because the Alec Baldwin classic bit in the film is not in the play. But upon reflection, the play doesn't need it. It is movie filler. Absolutely great and brilliant movie filler. So, on its own merits I'm awarding Hot City's production of Glengarry Glen Ross the very first 5 TKs out of 5.
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