Buckets of laughter abound at The Palace Theatre on Broadway as you watch the brilliant, hilarious revival of “Glengarry Glen Ross,” a David Mamet masterpiece. You will never laugh so hard at the theater as these characters — men working in a cutthroat Chicago real estate office, where if you don’t sell people worthless land, you’re out of a job — compete to swindle the public and win a Cadillac car. You can feel every bit of desperation that these characters experience as they fight for their own survival.
Insults, disrespect, and profanity fly, from the opening scene to the final moments. I haven’t laughed this much at a show in some time. You had to stop to catch your breath because the zingers were coming fast and furious. Each of these characters grabs your attention as you watch their determination and resolve to earn a place on the competition board, which gives them access to the best leads for people to sell worthless property to.
The audience is given the story in the first act through three separate conversations between two characters. The first two conversations share the problems that these men are up against to survive in this business, and their anger at how unfair their work environment is. The third shows a master salesman at work as he skillfully engages an unwitting victim.
There are so many personality dynamics at play here. Shelley (Bob Odenkirk) is the seasoned real estate agent who is now struggling to make a sale and is quick to trumpet his past glories. John (Donald Webber Jr.) is the man in charge of giving the top leads to the agents, and he is accountable to the big bosses to keep the money coming in. He is also the common element for all these men, and is verbally abused by members of this team. Richard (Kieran Culkin) is a new breed of agent and he is a high seller, arrogant and without a conscience. Dave (Bill Burr), also an agent, has had it with the mistreatment and the cruel competition that the men are made to engage in and he comes up with a way to teach the company a lesson. George (Michael McKean), has been doing this work for a long time and, like Dave, is having difficulty selling. He knows right from wrong and does not want to cross a line. The other two characters in this production are James (John Pirruccello), a member of the public and a new victim for Richard; and Baylen (Howard W. Overshown), a police officer investigating a situation at the company’s office.
Mamet’s writing is sharp, pungent, witty, and over the top. Witnessing these men tear each other down is a spectacle. The words come so fast and furious, you are just stunned, amused, and amazed. This ensemble of actors delivers spellbinding performances. Patrick Marber’s direction is stupendous! This cast hits the ground running and will steal your heart as you laugh uncontrollably.
The production has detail design by Scott Pask, and lighting design by Jen Schriever. This play is a “must see and go back again” experience. For tickets, visit glengarryonBroadway.com.