By Ron Levitt

Florida Media News
ENV Magazine

Speed-The Plow – a 20 year old, revitalized play by David Mamet, should have fans begging for tickets at GablesStage nowadays. The classic play – a hit once again on Broadway – has been in the news for the past year and continues to make wire service headlines. All of this notoriety plus the fact that this South Florida production is a sizzler – with fine acting and super direction – are the elements which usually make for a hit run.

In addition to its excellence as a play about the motion picture business, what makes Speed -The Plow so significant to show biz fans and those who like good theater?

The publicity surrounding the revived play reminds everyone that it was 20 years
that Madonna made her not-necessarily-memorable Broadway stage debut in this show.

2. The wire services and entertainment blogs – only months ago – screamed out that it was this play in which Entourage TV star Jeremy Pivens “dropped out” citing illness – high levels of mercury in his blood. Producers and Pivens were then engaged in a lawsuit for non-performance. Fans love controversy!!!

Headlines and publicity such as these are sure to drive many to see the Director Joseph Adler’s production. However, there are other, more potent reasons to see this topnotch creation in Coral Gables.

The double-whammy excellence of the prize-winning actors – Paul Tei and Greg
Weiner. Both are Carbonell-award recipients for Best Actor and what could be a bigger quinella than having two of this caliber in the same play? Both Tei and Weiner deliver in the whiplash satire with fierce concentration and energy.

Director Adler – also a multi-Carbonell recipient – once again put his indelible
stamp of excellence on this production –a play which emphasizes the sleazy side of filmmaking in Hollywood. And, who better than Pulitzer-prize winner (Glengarry Glen Ross) Mamet – considered a genius at scripting and a veteran of Tinsel-town – to tell this entertaining story of greedy studio executives?

Speed-The Plow tells the quick-paced story of Bobby (Tei) – head of production at a movie studio who yearns for more financial success and acceptance in the industry, and his long-time buddy Charlie (Weiner) who is pitching a commercially viable script which – with a big star likely to appear – will push them both to the top of the movieland heap. All is going to plan, until temp secretary Karen (Amy Elane Anderson) becomes involved. She is asked to give a “courtesy read” to a spiritually-themed, non-commercial script and then she then becomes its advocate. But, for what reason? — Mamet asks. Meanwhile, the two men are engaged in a $500 bet that Bobby can get Karen into his bed. The final third of the play is typical Mamet…trashing women, having two pals slug it out and the audience having one helluva good time watching the antics.

Forget about this play’s history, its Broadway successes, Mamet’s sensational script,

even about its more recent controversy. What makes this GableStage production a must-see can be summed up in two words — Tei and Wiener. Despite playing despicable characters, the dynamic duo scream, slam and slap with such gusto and intensity, one can only hope no permanent damage is done.

Sean Mccllelland’s design for the Hollywood office, complete with its just-arrived look and Omar Martos’ lighting add to the reality of this crude culture clip of cinemaland. Don’t miss it!

Speed-The Plow runs through September 13. Call 305-445-1119.