I hated the first fifteen minutes of this play. Nobody talks like this, or maybe everybody talks like this. It is irritating to watch. The dialogue bounces back and forth between the two characters, Jordan Pettle and Ari Cohen, each protesting friendship, gratitude, luck, thanks, etc,etc, all with a complete lack of sincerity. You just know that one will screw the other, given half a chance! And along comes Karen (Sarah Wilson) to provide the chance.
Eventually, you settle into the rythmn of the play and enjoy the battle without ever really knowing who to root for.
David Mamet is generally considered a great American playwrige, but I remain unconvinced.
Arghh! I have worked with these people!
ReplyDeleteThe language is irritating, but accurate in tone and effect, even if not in detail.
I think Karen is the temptress offering Ari's character the chance to do the"right thing" - make a movie from a serious book.
However, from the extracts of the book read in the play, he does the right thing in resisting temptation - the movie would have sucked!
Strong performances from all three actors.