"All train compartments smell vaguely of shit."

Got your attention with that one, didn't I? This is one of the many in-your-face, crass, and memorable lines from David Mamet's classic drama Glengarry Glenn Ross.  This darkly funny and biting play (and the 1992 movie by the same title) is a shrewd and piercing look at the lives of seemingly average salesmen trying to make do.  It is a uniquely American play that speaks to our values (independence, progress, property) in a fresh and terrifying way, and in the current Broadway revival it is just as relevant and shocking as when it was first produced.

For those of you who are not familiar with the movie or the play, I highly recommend that you rush out immediately and rent it.  (You can also read the script, but because of Mamet's quick and highly naturalistic writing style, I find it takes a couple of reads to really understand what is going on without seeing it.)  To put it simply, a group a salesmen are in a competition over who in the office can make the most sales in a month. The winner gets a Cadillac, the loser gets fired.  Even in the supposedly civilized world of American business, the basic predatory instincts are unleashed, and we find ourselves in an all-out war.

I am so grateful to my Uncle Dave who took me to see this show I otherwise would not have been able to see. It is absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Al Pacino act in this play, even if not in the role he originated.  As one would expect, Pacino was excellent as Shelley, even though this character isn't exactly his usual type.  It is a an eye-opening contrast to his performance as bad-boy Ricky Roma in the movie, and it is a credit to him as an actor that he is able to alter himself so drastically.  There are moments, though, where I must admit it seemed like he was resting on his haunches.  It took the first scene for him to really get warmed up. Of course, age is an important factor in casting and it would be impossible for him to play Roma in the current production.

That being said, Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire) as Roma was absolutely the most effective actor on stage.  While he was indeed every bit the slimy playboy, he allowed just enough cracks to show through that we believed in the character's sincere love of the game. He was attractive, terrifying, and very tangible.  It is through this character that we really see Mamet's central premise: masculinity will always need to be proven.  Whether we are hunting buffalo or making cold calls, it is a jungle out there and human beings will behave savagely.  And there is always an alpha male.

I did not see, obviously, the original production of Glengarry on Broadway, but there are a few things I have heard that I would like to comment on.  Specifically, from what I understand, in the original production, the scene where Ricky Roma makes a sale to James Lingk in the Chinese restaurant (from which the title line of this blog is taken) was much more shocking than in this one.  From what I hear, the audience had absolutely no idea that Roma's deep personal sharing and philosophical musing was all a rouse to make a sale.  When he brought out the papers there was a collective gasp.  In the resent production, there was a laugh, but there wasn't the same element of surprise.  Maybe it was because I knew what was going to happen, but it seemed obvious to me that the sales materials were on the table the entire time.  I would have liked to have lived that moment.

What I did like, and I believe this was new, was the addition of projected fortune cookie sayings on the curtain between each scene.  Because the entire first half takes place in a Chinese restaurant, it made sense, and the slogans they used (You will be successful in business, ect) were both funny and apropos.  And they allowed for the play to comment upon itself, which I always enjoy. 

This all-star production will only be playing for a very limited time, so if you are going to be in NYC anytime soon, I'd check it out before its too late.

Also, if anyone should wish to donate to the relief effort for Hurricane Sandy, please go to
www.redcross.org/hurricanesandy

There are sill many people in Staten Island, Queens, and the Jersey shore without their homes or businesses.