Theater Reviews : ‘Glengarry’: Realty Check in the Land of Promise

David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” won a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize in 1984 as an enlightening glimpse at the American way of life. Of course, his writing style had something to do with the stunning reality of the play, and its honesty.

It’s a style that adheres to the rhythms and vocal shorthand of the American males Mamet most cherishes as a writer, and his ear is impeccable. In a production at the Ensemble Theatre, director Roosevelt Blankenship Jr. and his cast have captured the flavor inherent in Mamet’s dialogue, and the cadence, and the guttural honesty of these high priests of phony hype.

There is little plot to “Glengarry.” There’s a lot of character, though, and it’s not an easy play to stage. Its colors are primary, its rhythms insistent, and its effect depends on driving tempos and actors able to look beyond their stereotypes to the honest guts beneath what’s written.

Blankenship has guided his actors judiciously and with a great deal of respect for Mamet’s text. The world the playwright is examining--that of real-estate salesmen who peddle questionable property to all those suckers out there who are waiting to be taken--is reproduced in this production with a clarity that should warn anyone to triple-check the next business deal that winks at them.

In a role usually given a harsher underside, Steve Howard is more than impressive as super-slick Ricky Romano, who is at the top of the sales board and going up. Howard’s Romano is cool, deliberate and with just a hint of insincere warmth that might fool his customers, and gives the performance a rewarding depth.

Howard Liebgot is also notable as Shelly Levene, a role usually played by an older actor. Liebgot’s sense of emotional weight provides the feeling of the years Levene has been around, once on top, now forced to foolish action to survive.

Steve Scholl, James M. Green and Victor Mena all turn in biting, forceful portraits of other salesmen in the office, and Kevin Darne, as the cop who tries fitfully to investigate an office robbery, has the right brusque officiousness.

He also is very funny, marshaling all his patience while Romano is trying desperately to save a bad sale to Norman Cleary’s born sucker of a customer. Cleary’s perfect, terrified naivete, Romano’s slimy maneuvering, and Darne’s deadpan hatred of Romano create one of those theatrical moments that sticks long in memory.

* “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Ensemble Theatre, 844 E. Lincoln Ave., Suite E, Orange. Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends July 16. $10-$15. (714) 998-2670. Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes. Steve Howard: Ricky Romano

Howard Liebgot; Shelly Levene

James M. Green: George Aaronow

Victor Mena: Dave Moss

Norman Cleary; James Lingk

Kevin Darne: Baylen

Steve Scholl: John Williamson

An Ensemble Theatre production of David Mamet’s drama. Directed by Roosevelt Blankenship Jr. Scenic design: Blankenship, Duy T. Tran. Light/sound design: Jim Mongell, Marcus E. Blankenship. Stage manager: Jim Mongell.