Speed the Plow -- fantastic

I have no idea why this play is called Speed-the-Plow, but I guess that’s kind of irrelevant. What is relevant is that this play is fantastic – the best New Rep has produced this year. Mamet is a great playwright and the dialogue is fast-paced, profanity-laced and, at times, almost too quick to follow.

The actors were excellent. The best was Robert Pemberton as Bobby Gould, the just-promoted movie producer who has to decide whether he wants to produce a crowd-pleasing “movie” or a “film” with a moral and ethical message. This dilemma is presented to him on the one side by his long-term friend and associate Charlie Fox (very well played by Gabriel Kutner), who brings him a sure-fire script for a prison movie, complete with a popular actor. The argument for art and morality is presented by Bobby’s temporary secretary, Karen (beautifully played by Aimee Doherty). Karen urges Bobby to forego the materialistic prison movie and to make a film from a “courtesy read” book that he asked her to review (with the ultimate hope of bedding her). The three characters regularly read from the book, which is about radiation and the end of the world, to underscore the points they are making. But regardless of whether it is Karen reading with awe and passion, or Charlie reading the book with derision, one thing is clear: the book is puerile and would make a terrible, terrible movie.

The writing is taut and fast paced and the actors do it justice. Although Kutner (Charlie) was a bit hesitant in the first few scenes, he caught his stride by the middle of the play and finished it with a dynamic and memorable performance. Doherty (Karen) was perfect for the role of a seemingly naïve young woman, who is ultimately as shallow and ambition-driven as everyone else. The most performance was Pemberton’s. He fully inhabited the role of Bobby, a man who was alternately motivated by power and lust. He gave a nuanced performance allowing the character to be forceful, funny or passionate, as the scene demanded. Pemberton was on stage for the entire performance and despite the strength of the other actors, it was hard to take your eyes off him.

“Speed-the-Plow” is playing at New Rep through November 7th. It would be a mistake to miss this one.

K.Poverman, New Rep reviewer