Speed-the-Plow plays final performance on Broadway

The Broadway revival of David Mamet's Speed-The-Plow, plays its final performance on 22 Feb 2009, as scheduled. The show played 140 regular performances and 24 previews.

The play opened at the Ethal Barrymore Theatre on 23 Oct 2008, following previews from 3 Oct 2009.

The play opened to excellent notices "This production takes on helium that lifts it and its audience into the ether." (NY Times); "fine-tuned revival makes for an entertaining ride." (NY Daily News); "The comedy is pithy, smart and performed with prickly energy" (Variety).

The production, which originally starred Jeremy Piven (Bobby Gould), Ra�l Esparza (Charlie Fox) and Elisabeth Moss (Karen), hit the news when Piven abruptly announced he was withdrawing from the production on 17 Dec 2009, claiming he was feeling ill due to a high mercury count.

Piven had already missed the 16 Dec evening and 17 Dec matinee performances. As a result of his withdrawal understudy Jordan Lage stepped into the role of 'Bobby Gould' while producers searched for a replacement.

On the 18 Dec the producers announced that Norbert Leo Butz would assume the role from 23 Dec 2008 through to 11 Jan 2009, and William H. Macy from 13 Jan through to the end of Speed-The-Plow's run on 22 Feb 2009.

The play was re-reviewed with its stars William H. Macy, Ra�l Esparza and Elisabeth Moss, and it received even more favorable notices: �Speed-The-Plow is just as fun as it was in October, but also richer and more satisfying!� (New York Times); �David Mamet's scabrous comedy of Hollywood high jinks has gotten even better...Macy is confident with the language, batting it back and forth with the skill of a tennis ace!� (Associated Press), �Mamet�s comedy of movieland is zestier and zippier now!� (The Daily News), �Macy's long experience as a David Mamet collaborator shows in his mastery of the playwright's ricochet dialogue.� (Variety).

Playwright David Mamet, who seemed perplexed by Piven's 'high mercury count' told Variety after Piven's withdrawal, �I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury,� Mamet said. �So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.�

The producers of the show have filed a grievance with Actor's Equity Association about Priven's exit from the production. The hearing is to be heard on 26 Feb 2009.

Speed-The-Plow is Mamet�s scathing portrait of the film industry and the people who are willing to sell their souls for sex, fame and fortune. The play begins with Fox coming to his long-time friend Gould after he unexpectedly gets the twenty-four-hour option to a prison movie. Their 20-year friendship undergoes a test of loyalty when Karen, the na�ve-seeming temporary secretary comes between the project with an agenda of her own.

Speed-The-Plow was first produced on Broadway in 1988 at the Royale Theatre (now called Bernard B. Jacobs,) directed by Gregory Mosher and starred Madonna as 'Karen', Joe Mantegna as 'Bobby Gould' and Ron Silver as 'Charlie Fox'. The play was nominated for Tony's for Best Play and Best director, and Ron Silver won a Tony Award for Best Best Actor in Play.

The playwright's other Broadway credits include: 'The Water Engine / Mr. Happiness' (1978), 'Glengarry Glen Ross' (1984, revival 2005), 'Speed-the-Plow' (1988) and 'The Old Neighborhood' (1997), 'November' (2008) and 'American Buffalo' (2008).