Published in The News Tribune, Jan. 16, 2015
 |
| From left: W. Scott Pinkerston, Frank Roberts, Kyle Sinclairand Jim Winkler in "Glengarry Glen Ross at Lakewood Playhouse. Photo by Kate Paterno-Lick. |
Every year at this point in their season Lakewood Playhouse
take a chance on a less-than-mainstream show, knowing that while ticket sales
will likely be less than those of their more tried-and-true shows but in the
conviction that gutsy and more controversial shows deserve an airing. Their
“outside the box” show for this season is David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross,”
winner of a Pulitzer Prize, Tony and Olivier award, and controversial primarily
for its liberal use of adult language.
Four ruthless and desperate real estate agents in the
office of Mitch & Murray are locked in a no-holds-barred battle to be top
dog, each trying every sleazy trick imaginable to sell worthless plots of land
while an office manager they despise (Kyle Sinclair) holds valuable leads for
only the top closers and a representative from the home office (Mike Slease)
berates them so vehemently as to put the most vicious of drill sergeants to
shame. Two of the agents conspire to break in and steal confidential files from
the office and sell them to a rival agency, and a police detective (Dave Hall)
is called in to investigate.
Much of the first act is taken up with exposition. In three
scenes we see first the hatchet man from the main office challenging the
salesmen and telling them how worthless they are; and then two of the salesmen,
Moss (Alan Wilkie) and Aaronow (James Winkler) plotting to steal from the
office; and finally the top dog, Roma (W. Scott Pinkston), cajoling a rather
wimpy James Lingk (Frank Roberts) into buying land he neither wants nor needs
nor can afford.
This first act is filled with anger and bleakness. Then in
the second act everything boils over and a lot of lusty humor is injected into
the otherwise depressing story.
Lakewood Playhouse’s in-the-round stage configuration is
ideal for this production. The desks in the Mitch & Murray fill the floor
and the audience is up close and drawn into the action. John Munn’s direction
and the acting of the entire ensemble cast are outstanding. You forget these
actors are playing parts as they become the cutthroat characters they portray.
How can anyone watch this without simultaneously hating and admiring Roma and
feeling the deep sadness in Joseph Grant, a veteran of many shows at Lakewood
Playhouse, turns in one of his best performances ever as Levene, once a top dog
and now sadly out of touch with modern sales methods.
Two of the actors, Hall and Pinkston, retired from acting
18 and 13 years ago respectively, and this is a comeback performance for each.
Their acting abilities seem to have ripened throughout those years. Pinkston’s
wide range of expression is truly impressive, and Hall, who says very little,
is nevertheless convincing as the police detective.
Slease is also a well-known and popular Tacoma area actor.
He plays the man from the home office with bravado. His tirade in act one is cringe-worthy.
Winkler is also a Playhouse veteran who has been away for a
decade, last appearing on this stage in “The Guys” in 2004. We’re told in the
program that he studied under the great Stella Adler in Hollywood and New York,
and that experience shows in his portrayal of Aaronow.
“Glengarry Glen Ross” is not an easy show to watch. It is
anything but a feel good show. Anyone who is easily offended by tough adult
language should avoid it. But for people who appreciate taut drama and great
acting, this is the show to see.
Check Alec’s blog at alecclayton.blogspot.com for reviews of
other area theatrical productions. Upcoming reviews include “Come Back to the
Five and Dime Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean”
at Olympia Little Theatre
and The Great Gatsby at Tacoma Little Theatre.
WHAT:
Glengarry Glen Ross
WHEN:
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through Feb. 1
WHERE:
Lakewood Playhouse, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood
TICKETS: $25.00, $22.00 military,
$21.00 seniors and $19.00 students/educators
INFORMATION: 253-588-0042, www.lakewoodplayhouse.org
No comments:
Post a Comment