2008 Woodie Awards
Center Stage Can't Salvage Mamet Script
Aliza Ross
Issue date: 4/21/04 Section: Arts and Entertainment
David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow could not be saved by the great direction and lighting Center Stage produced.
The drama tells of Hollywood backstabbing, manipulation, greed, and power. Bobby Gould (played by David Chandler) is a newly promoted movie producer. Swamped with forgettable scripts, Gould becomes frustrated that he cannot find a sure-fire hit. Luckily for Gould, friend and colleague Charlie Fox (played by Vincent Guastaferro) brings Gould a high-profile director and action script. Gould is thrilled by the movie idea and wants to co-produce it with Fox. Fox is doubly ecstatic because he has been waiting for a career boost like this one for quite some time. However, this is not the only film Gould is wanted to produce. Given a "courtesy read" book by Gould, temporary secretary Karen (played by Lindsay Campbell) tries to convince the movie buff that he should produce a movie about the goodness and motivation of the human spirit. Torn by a friend and a potential love interest, Gould must decide which film to produce before a meeting with his boss.
All in all, there was not much substance to this plot. Mamet's frequent use of swear words was poignant at first but helped to lose the emphasis of the script. The character development was weak even though hints of the characters' pasts were dropped throughout the play.
Although this plot was bland, Center Stage put forth a great effort to make up for it in direction and lighting. In some scenes, the actors demonstrated fierce anger only achievable by a good director. When a character was about to reach a boiling point and finally explode, it was a shock to the audience. The sudden burst of screaming took the audience by surprise. Director Daniel Fish did an excellent job in helping the actors accomplish this, and to speak clearly and project their voices to the back of the theater.
Towards the end of the play, Fox took a couple of punches at Gould. Fight Coordinator J. David Brimmer helped to accent the force of the punches with fake blood. At the end of the fight, Gould had a bloody nose, gum and hand. Both Fish and Brimmer were able to stun the audience again through this violent burst by Fox.
Lighting Designer Jane Cox kept the lights bright and fluorescent looking for most of the play, which takes place in an unfinished office. By keeping the lights bright, the actors really stood out while on stage. In a scene at Gould's home, the lighting was dimmer to fit the mood and reflected the romantic scene. In both settings, the lighting was crucial to accent the set designed by Andrew Lieberman.
Two scenes were used, one in Gould's office and the other in Gould's home. Because he was just promoted, the office was unfinished. Stacks of scripts and books were on the floor underneath a very modern glass topped desk. A brown leather loveseat and matching end table were in one corner of the stage while paint supplies were in the other. Two large windows were fitted with cheap Venetian blinds to further highlight the unfinished office. With today's technology, a change of scene was made possible by a cable which was connected to the bottom of the furniture. In a short scene change, the loveseat became the centerpiece for Gould's home with a tall lamp close to the rear of the stage.
Speed-the-Plow will continue its Center Stage engagement until its close on May 2. Ticket information is available at the Center Stage box office, 410-332-0033.
The drama tells of Hollywood backstabbing, manipulation, greed, and power. Bobby Gould (played by David Chandler) is a newly promoted movie producer. Swamped with forgettable scripts, Gould becomes frustrated that he cannot find a sure-fire hit. Luckily for Gould, friend and colleague Charlie Fox (played by Vincent Guastaferro) brings Gould a high-profile director and action script. Gould is thrilled by the movie idea and wants to co-produce it with Fox. Fox is doubly ecstatic because he has been waiting for a career boost like this one for quite some time. However, this is not the only film Gould is wanted to produce. Given a "courtesy read" book by Gould, temporary secretary Karen (played by Lindsay Campbell) tries to convince the movie buff that he should produce a movie about the goodness and motivation of the human spirit. Torn by a friend and a potential love interest, Gould must decide which film to produce before a meeting with his boss.
All in all, there was not much substance to this plot. Mamet's frequent use of swear words was poignant at first but helped to lose the emphasis of the script. The character development was weak even though hints of the characters' pasts were dropped throughout the play.
Although this plot was bland, Center Stage put forth a great effort to make up for it in direction and lighting. In some scenes, the actors demonstrated fierce anger only achievable by a good director. When a character was about to reach a boiling point and finally explode, it was a shock to the audience. The sudden burst of screaming took the audience by surprise. Director Daniel Fish did an excellent job in helping the actors accomplish this, and to speak clearly and project their voices to the back of the theater.
Towards the end of the play, Fox took a couple of punches at Gould. Fight Coordinator J. David Brimmer helped to accent the force of the punches with fake blood. At the end of the fight, Gould had a bloody nose, gum and hand. Both Fish and Brimmer were able to stun the audience again through this violent burst by Fox.
Lighting Designer Jane Cox kept the lights bright and fluorescent looking for most of the play, which takes place in an unfinished office. By keeping the lights bright, the actors really stood out while on stage. In a scene at Gould's home, the lighting was dimmer to fit the mood and reflected the romantic scene. In both settings, the lighting was crucial to accent the set designed by Andrew Lieberman.
Two scenes were used, one in Gould's office and the other in Gould's home. Because he was just promoted, the office was unfinished. Stacks of scripts and books were on the floor underneath a very modern glass topped desk. A brown leather loveseat and matching end table were in one corner of the stage while paint supplies were in the other. Two large windows were fitted with cheap Venetian blinds to further highlight the unfinished office. With today's technology, a change of scene was made possible by a cable which was connected to the bottom of the furniture. In a short scene change, the loveseat became the centerpiece for Gould's home with a tall lamp close to the rear of the stage.
Speed-the-Plow will continue its Center Stage engagement until its close on May 2. Ticket information is available at the Center Stage box office, 410-332-0033.
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