Speed the Plow
Category: Books,Literature & Fiction,Dramas & Plays,United States
Speed the Plow Details
Jaded Hollywood producer Bobby Gould has spent a career reaping what others sow, until the night he's forced to choose between his loyal friend's sure-fire hit and a beautiful girl's art-house project. During a wicked evening of seduction and manipulation, Bobby discovers that the power he exerts is more elusive than it seems.
Reviews
David Mamet finished this play in 1987 and it debuted in NYC in 1988. It is the story of two movie producers (played by Joe Mantegna and Ron Silver in the original cast) and a young secretary (Madonna). The producers decide to pitch a prison movie. A schlock movie that is formulaic but has a big star attached to it and will make everyone lots of money. One of the producers gives a dystopian book to his temporary secretary to read. She loves it and urges him to produce it, thus submarining the other producer. This gets us to the volatile third act.Like some of Mamet's other plays, the language is vulgar (doesn't bother me at all) without being direct (this is bothersome). There is too much subtext, which is overused in literature and used much less frequently in real life. As in many of Mamet's other plays, everyone is not only flawed, but a bit bad. For me, it can be hard to read or watch a play without anyone to really root for.It's ok. If you are a Mamet completist, then you should read it. Otherwise, you can pass without worrying about missing anything.