Here’s Your Chance to Love, or Hate, Mamet

When David Mamet’s “American Buffalo” first played in New York City, it won a 1976 Obie Award. When it moved to Broadway, it won the Drama Critics Circle award as Best American Play of 1976.

Mamet, whose roots are in Chicago, often splits performers and audiences in two: one faction finds his plays realistic and refreshing, another group finds them so windy that they’re over-inflated. With “American Buffalo” appearing in a fine production by the new Secondhand Store Productions at Thousand Oaks’ Arts Council Center, here’s an opportunity to judge for yourself.

Donnie (James Cotton) runs a pawn shop, where he’s sometimes assisted by a young drug addict named Bobby (M. Deegan). When a customer pays Donnie an unexpected $90 for what turns out to have been a rare buffalo head nickel, Donnie decides it must be worth even more and decides to get it back.

He asks Bobby to assist in the robbery. Neither is particularly bright--Donnie is craven, and Bobby is just too much under the influence to think clearly, even if that were possible. Then a friend of Donnie known as “Teach” (Frank Gallagher) invites himself into the action.

Mamet’s plays are characterized by a lot of talk, much of it hot air, and some fairly harsh language (actually, here it’s rather mild, or at least sparely used; Mamet was just starting). And not much gets done.

On the other hand--and here’s why actors love Mamet--there are lengthy stretches of dialogue, strong characters, some intensely dramatic encounters and a couple of very funny scenes.

Mamet’s dialogue occasionally takes on the rhythms, if not the rhymes, of poetry: When good actors get at it, even the cussing can be practically thrilling to listen to. The cast and director Matt McGee understand that and rise to the challenge with performances at least as strong as any on local stages in ages.

Gallagher, Deegan and Cotton’s work is so strong, in fact, that one wishes Mamet’s story had more substance. As it turns out, for many playgoers his and the company’s impressive style may--will have to--be enough.

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DETAILS

“American Buffalo” continues Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. through June 24 at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave. (off Moorpark Road) in Thousand Oaks. Tickets to all performances are $10; $8, seniors and students; and may be charged over the phone; cash only at the door. For reservations (recommended) or further information, call 381-2747.

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The Rubicon Theatre Company has extended its run of “Murder in the First” by a week.

Larry Hagman, who played the judge in this well-received courtroom drama, left the cast after the first two weeks due to prior commitments as a speaker to kidney transplant patients, according to play director Linda Gray.

Hagman is now scheduled to return for the newly announced segment, June 28-July 2. Hagman was replaced last weekend by playwright Dan Gordon, and until his return his part will be played by veteran actor Dana Elcar (many stage plays, 400 TV credits and more than 40 feature films, according to his Rubicon bio), a local resident and Santa Paula Theater Company co-founder. Hagman and Linda Gray, his “Dallas” co-star, are scheduled to appear on CNN’s “Larry King Live” Monday or Tuesday.

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DETAILS

“Murder in the First” continues Wednesday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday at 2 p.m. though July 2 at the Laurel Theatre, 1006 E. Main St. in Ventura. Tickets are $32.50 ($27.50, seniors) Friday and Saturday evenings; $27.50 ($22.50, seniors) Wednesday, Thursday and matinees. For reservations and casting updates, call 667-2900 between noon and 5 p.m. weekdays.

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Jim Barker has a new URL for his fine Ventura County Theatre Pages. If you’re interested in finding out what’s happening in local theater, https://www.barkerductions.com is a good place to check. If you’re listed, make sure Barker has your current and upcoming information. He tries hard and does well, but--like the rest of us--can’t cover what he doesn’t know about.

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Todd Everett can be reached at teverett@concentric.net.