A Celebration of David Mamet’s ‘State’ of Mind

“State and Main” (which opens Friday) is writer-director David Mamet’s humorous take on what happens when a film crew brings matzo, bottled water and show-biz values to small-town Waterford, Vt. As a former resident of the state, I got a kick out of the film.

Before moving to L.A., I worked for a year at a newspaper in tiny Manchester, Vt., where I met my “real Vermonter” boyfriend, Adam.

I can say that the Green Mountain State has plenty to poke fun at (remember “The Bob Newhart Show’s” goofy brothers Larry, Darryl and Darryl?). Business hours are flexible (especially during hunting season), traffic stops for livestock, and there’s no such thing as one-day dry-cleaning. Adam’s joke slogan for the weekly Manchester Journal where we worked was: “We do more in one week than most people do in a day.”

But “State and Main” satirizes Hollywood more than Vermont. Before Monday’s premiere screening at the Directors Guild of America, Mamet joked with the celeb-heavy crowd: “Some of you might think it’s not too kind to bite the hand that milks you.”

Most of the film’s stars were at the post-premiere party at Le Colonial, including a long-haired Philip Seymour Hoffman; Sarah Jessica Parker; Mamet’s wife, Rebecca Pidgeon; and William H. Macy.

Macy said he and Mamet met while they were in school at Vermont’s Goddard College. Both still keep residences in the state--Mamet in Cabot, and Macy near Plainfield. “It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” Macy said.

Indeed. And how important is one-day dry-cleaning?

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The key to any successful party in this town is having stellar “expected celebrity guests”--famous people who allow their names to be listed on press releases and invitations even if they aren’t planning on showing up. Friday’s two-year anniversary bash for Los Angeles-based Flaunt magazine had an expected guest list that included Winona Ryder, George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. But the turnout? That’s another story.

The party, a charity toy drive, was held atop Mulholland Drive at a house owned by Eddie Aslanian, a partner of club promoter Brent Bolthouse. The ranch had a sparkling view of the Valley, a hot tub enclosed in a tepee and a petting zoo with a llama. Guests were greeted by a machine blowing snow, a caroling First AME choir and one of Flaunt’s three founders, Luis Barajas, who was monitoring celeb invitees.

Flaunt is more of a showcase for avant-garde fashion photography than for designer clothing. But Flaunt is mad about Hollywood, which explains why, two hours after the party had started, Barajas had still not gone inside. Cell phone in hand, he was tracking the whereabouts of Charlize Theron.

Several sort of famous people took spins on the red carpet. Leelee Sobieski was followed by Shiva Rose, who was followed by a blond nymph the paparazzi mistook for Melissa Joan Hart. (It was actually another TV 20-something, Marissa Coughlan.) But no A-listers. Barajas assured the restless photogs and reporters that Theron was “in the limo.”

Instead of “Waiting for Godot,” we were waiting for Charlize. 9:30 p.m. No Charlize. 10 p.m. No Charlize.

At long last, the lemon-haired lovely arrived around 10:30. Joining her in the flashbulbs, Barajas knew it was his best shot. He kissed the actress’ cheeks and said, “Now I am ready to party!”