David Mamet's BITTER WHEAT to premiere in London with Malkovich

[The Distinctive Baritone]

http://www.playbill.com/article/john-malkovich-to-star-in-new-david-mamet-play-bitter-wheat

So...how do we feel about this? My preliminary thoughts:

What is a David Mamet play inspired by the Harvey Weinstein accusations going to look like? Mamet is known for being a hardcore conservative who has been accused of misogyny in many of his plays. In Oleanna, also written as a response to sexual misconduct accusations (in that case, those against Clarence Thomas), he clearly sides with the accused. Granted, that play premiered 27 years ago, but has he changed his tune?

Also, what the F is up with the title? I know he likes absurd titles, but come on.

[Mike Barrett]

I was really interested in this until you mentioned the playwright having a history of mischony and defending assaulters. Would be interesting if they try and turn this guy into a hero lol.

In all seriousness, I'd assume this will be quite a graphic play correct? Intrigued is where I'm at with this right now but nothing more.

[Kad]

This is probably the last writer I'd want to approach this- other than Neil LaBute, I suppose. 

I assume he'll delight in taking down what was once a major liberal figure. But who knows? Pretty much everything he's written in the last decade has been downright bad, produced only because he's Mamet.

The press release plot summary is bizarre and self-important. 

[Fordham2015]

Malkovich has been a bit snotty in interviews about this, and it's definitely a loaded subject. But that's Mamet's bread and butter- he literally wrote a play called Race.

As one of the only people who liked China Doll (it's no Glengarry, but also not the trainwreck it was made out to be) I'm cautiously optimistic about this piece. Wonder if there'll be a U.S production if British reviews are positive.

[devonian.t]

Let's hope Malkovich doesn't suffer the fate of Pacino.  I'm not persuaded Mamet is the best director of his writing.

[TotallyEffed]

I’m much more interested in the rumored revival of The Anarchist starring Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham.

[Niles Silvers]

I tired of listening to old white men ranting quite a few years ago. 

[zainmax]

Wonder why it's being done in the UK and not U.S?

[Alex Kulak2]

zainmax said: "Wonder why it's being done in the UK and not U.S?"

Glengarry Glen Ross originally debuted in the UK

[Alex Kulak2]

Anyone in London planning on seeing this?

New York Post just tore it a new one.

https://nypost.com/2019/06/07/david-mamets-harvey-weinstein-play-is-a-sick-joke/

[jbird5]

devonian.t said: "Let's hope Malkovich doesn't suffer the fate of Pacino. I'm not persuaded Mamet is the best director of his writing."

China Doll was directed by Pam MacKinnon although I think Mamet was heavily involved.  Count me as another who actually enjoyed it once I woke up for Act 2.

[qolbinau]

Well, that NYPost article has sold the show to me. I will try and take a look. Ticket sales are excellent right now so hard to go last minute on a whim! 

[GeorgeandDot]

Ugh. Super ugh to you, qolbinau. This sounds good to you?

[Alex Kulak2]

GeorgeandDot said: "Ugh. Super ugh to you, qolbinau. This sounds good to you?"

qolbinau's taking one for the team. I need to know more about this trainwreck.

I'm kinda pissed honestly. I want one more good Mamet play before he retires/dies.

[qolbinau]

I personally don't care if it's good or not, being part of the audience of something this controversial and odd "Written AND directed by" this polarising figure with this cast seems like a must-see event. In fact, the more of a trainwreck the better.  

[LarryD2]

If I was in London right now, my butt would be in a seat at the Garrick in a hot second. Not because I support Mamet or this play. Because it sounds like this has the potential to be a legendary trainwreck, and I want bragging rights to say I was there.

[Mister Matt]

I want one more good Mamet play before he retires/dies.

I never thought he had one good play to begin with.  Style over substance.  No more Mamet anything would be preferable.

[Impossible2]

I think I paid 30 quid for a seat behind a pole, sounds like I lucked out x

[qolbinau]

Finally about to see this. What I find interesting though is at tube stations and on twitter their current marketing says

"You can't be outraged if you haven't seen it yet. So book your seat today for a performance unlike any other with #BitterWheat."

Is this the first show that has ever tried to capitalise on negative word of mouth? It's an interesting strategy. 

[Impossible2]

I had a ticket for last week and didn't even bother to go x

[Jordan Catalano]

They must be getting pretty desperate coming up to the closing of the show, I don’t remember seeing any of that marketing a couple weeks ago there. And the fact that they’re seriously trying to bring it to broadway just baffles my mind.

[qolbinau]

Sadly it isn’t very controversial at all in my opinion. It’s a very light, loose interpretation of what could have happened behind close doors with Harvey Weinstein in an alternate universe. A few laughs. But many of the jokes are repeated over and over again so many times that they become boring - specifically the fat jokes and the race/Asian-related jokes. A lot of cliche ideas about power and money. The lead actor does a good job making the very unlikable character entertaining. It’s all just rather meh though.

The second act is a schizophrenic mess and ended in the most absurd and abrupt fashion. Did he write this while high on drugs?

I would make act 1 grittier, have some genuinely insightful and terrifying monologues and completely rewrite act 2 if it were my play.

I still think it’s worth seeing if you can see it for a rush price or less - I paid 11 pounds lol.

[Alex Kulak2]

qolbinau said: "Finally about to see this. What I find interesting though is at tube stations and on twitter their current marketing says

"You can't be outraged if you haven't seen it yet. So book your seat today for a performance unlike any other with #BitterWheat."

Is this the first show that has ever tried to capitalise on negative word of mouth? It's an interesting strategy."

I don't know about theatre, but when that terrible Travolta movie where he played John Gotti came out, the marketing for the film capitalized on the 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and pointed out the 90% audience score, when it came out later they made up hundreds of fake accounts to fix the vote.

[Jordan Catalano]

That final act was absurd. It’s like he wrote it by pulling suggestions out of a hat and whatever he pulled, he had to write about. It makes zero sense and while, I suppose, it was better than “China Doll”, it’s maybe the worst thing he’s ever written.