Speed the Plow – Verdant Productions – Review

Verdant Productions Present Speed The Plow by David Mamet

Civic Theatre, Tallaght 6th – 8th April
Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire 13th – 15th April
Ramor Theatre, Cavan  26th April
Droichead Arts Centre 27th April

This play was written by David Mamet in 1988. It is a satire based on the American movie industry, where money is the bottom line and everything else is secondary.  We meet three characters in this piece, the Head of Production Bobby Gould (Tara Egan-Langley), along with another studio executive Charlie Fox (Jolly Abraham). The final piece of the puzzle is Bobby’s temporary secretary Kevin/ Karen (Macleod Stephen).

Charlie has some exciting news.  The famous actor Doug Brown arrived at his front door, saying he wanted to work on a film with him. It’s a prison drama and an almost guaranteed hit. Charlie arrives at Bobby’s office with the news, and the two plan how they will sell it to the head of the studio, Richard Ross. While the executives plan their new found success, a crisis of conscience awaits that will challenge the morals of the two men.

This is a new production by Verdant Theatre company that takes an unusual spin on the play. The casting has reversed the gender of the characters. This change has many effects.  The positives are that it highlights the misogyny and casual sexism of the characters.  The negative is that it makes it more difficult for the audience, with the jocular banter of the characters not sitting well with their new genders.  While Mamet is a well-known playwright, it is rare to see this work on the stage and many in the audience will be unfamiliar with the play.  The concept may have been better used on a text that is more familiar to the audience, putting a new spin on a well-known subject matter.  It is a complex alteration that will delight some audience members and annoy others.

The cast enjoys the role reversal, with Jolly Abraham a particular highlight as the hard-headed and pragmatic Charlie, who fights to keep his chance of fame and fortune. Tara Egan-Langley as Bobby exhibits the frailty of ego which is required to make the piece work. Macleod Stephen’s role as Kevin/ Karen is the most contentious character, either an innocent soul or a duplicitous opportunist.

The staging is relatively simple with a typical office, with items of furniture covered in sheets as it was being renovated. The only surprising element was how much of the wings and the space above the set was visible, including the lighting! It is rare to be able to see so many of the backstage elements.

David Mamet is one of the best writers of our times and it is always worthwhile to see his work on stage.  It’s clearly a sharp and complex piece of writing that will have you discussing its finer points long after you leave the theatre.  His work is demanding of the actors and they stand up well to the fast-talking and twisting nature of the script.  While the central conceit of altering the gender of the main characters may split the audience, it is interesting to see a theatre company willing to take a risk and show the audience something new.

Verdant Productions Present Speed The Plow
by David Mamet
Directed by Andy Crook
Starring – Jolly Abraham, Tara Egan Langley, Macleod Stephen

Civic Theatre, Tallaght 6th – 8th April
Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire 13th – 15th April
Ramor Theatre, Cavan  26th April
Droichead Arts Centre 27th April