Mamet's language, which has long been praised for its razor-sharp, foul-mouthed, cryptic-patterned dialogue, is still intact. But while the words--including Mamet's obligatory slew of four-letter epitaphs--might once have provided a great deal of shock to audiences, today they possess a perceptable loss of punch and severity, perhaps resulting from the freedom for such talk that exists in today's multimedia world. This production has to deliver the goods the old-fashioned way: through the acting and the story.
American Buffalo is a morality tale about three small-time crooks, Teach (Macy), Don (Philip Baker Hall), and his young friend Bobby (Mark Webber), on the eve of an attempted heist of precious coins, including a rare buffalo nickel, hence the play's title. Set entirely in a crowded secondhand store, the play opens with Don, who owns the store, teaching some life lessons to his young friend Bobby. How is he taking care of himself? Does he have any vitamins? Does he need any money? Instantly, Don is seen as a clear father figure to his inexperienced young protégé, a figure he most likely never was within his own family. The production's dynamic then takes a turn with Teach's stormy entrance. Upset after a losing night of poker, Teach enraptures and terrorizes the stage with a maniacal barrage of verbal and physical outbursts. His name is dutifully earned from the lessons he gives, whether anyone is listening or not.
The other two actors in the production provide memorable performances of their own. The seasoned film and stage actor Hall imbues Don with a nobility that rises above the junk that fills his life and his store. The fact that Macy and Hall struggled for years before finding critical and popular acclaim adds depth to their world-weary repartee. Making his theatrical debut, Webber brings a refreshingly wide-eyed, almost pure innocence to Bobby. All three are to be commended for masterfully handling Mamet's difficult linguistic style, which can become painfully obvious when his works are attempted by amateurs.
The single most important theme of American Buffalo--the thing that keeps the play from fading into impotency--is its balls-up view of capitalism and business. Each character is out for his own profit, and nothing else: Don, for the financial gain of his store; Bobby, for his drug-addled survival; Teach, for the big score that will give him the legendary criminal status he craves. Ultimately, the action of the play is very much like a day in the stock market. You hear about the tip, you wait for your moment to jump, you attack--but, sometimes, you end up right back where you started.
