Macy, Hall & Webber are magnificent in Mamet's Buffalo
Written: Apr 19 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: superb acting in a great play
Cons: not for people looking for Les Mis or Cats
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| tanya_marsh's Full Review: American Buffalo |
When I first learned that William H. Macy and Philip Baker Hall were going to star in a revival of David Mamet's American Buffalo, I immediately called to purchase tickets. I bought the tickets about three weeks before the performance and, for $50 each, was able to snag fourth row, dead center. American Buffalo is running at the Atlantic Theatre Company (336 W. 20th Street), a small theatre co-founded by William H. Macy himself, but even in the intimate environment, our seats were great.
Although you may have heard the names of William H. Macy and Philip Baker Hall, their faces are sometimes difficult to place. Macy is best known for his Academy Award nominated role as a nervous car salesman in the Coen brothers' Fargo. He and Hall have also starred in all of Paul Thomas Anderson's films (Magnolia, Boogie Nights). Philip Baker Hall most recently portrayed Don Hewit (Al Pacino/Lowell Bergman's boss) in The Insider. Mark Webber, the third member of the American Buffalo cast, is a new face in Hollywood and most recently starred in the Chevy Chase picture Snowday (not an acting credential that rivals his distinguished co-stars, but hey, he's only 19).
American Buffalo takes place in Don's (Hall's) junk shop one day as Don and his compatriates (thiefs? grifters? petty criminals?) contemplate the burglary of a coin collection. It seems that a wealthy man bought a buffalo nickel from Don and he feels that he may have gotten swindled in the transaction. By the end of American Buffalo, the only thing that is clear is that none of these people should (or do) trust one another -- everyone is looking out for number one.
As the volatile and explosive Teach, William H. Macy is magnificent. I have never seen him in a role that demanded such constant high energy. He usually plays retreating wallflowers, but this role really demonstrated his range.
Hall was steady and very good as Don, a character who is on stage throughout the entire play. He is the immovable object around which Teach frets and Bobby (Mark Webber) skulks.
Webber was surprisingly good as Bobby, especially near the end when he is required to experience a great deal of subtle emotion and pain. A lesser actor would have been theatrically expressive, but Webber has clearly learned a few things from veterans Macy and Hall.
In short, American Buffalo is a very talky play (what else would one expect from Mamet, the author of Glen Gary Glen Ross) and there are no special effects, dancing girls, or musical numbers. But it is a very good, very funny play and boasts some of the best acting on Broadway (or off) today.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tanya_marsh
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Member: Tanya Marsh
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Reviews written: 49
Trusted by: 31 members
About Me:
Me in a nutshell: new lawyer; new mom; pop culture expert.
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