David Mamet’s BITTER WHEAT Eyeing Broadway Run

[Jordan Catalano]

I saw Bitter Wheat on the West End this afternoon and spoke with someone at the theatre who said theyre in serious talks to bring the show, with John Malkovich to Broadway. While that doesnt surprise me, what does surprise me is that they think this will have any chance of being successful here. Its one of Mamets more ridiculous plays which honestly sounds like he wrote act one in half an hour and then let someone else write act two. The two acts seem to have nothing in common when it comes to the tone of the show and left me (and a lot of the audience from what I could hear) scratching their heads as they walked out.

[TotallyEffed]

I've only heard terrible things but I hope it comes so I can see Malkovich on stage.

[Impossible2]

I'm going in a couple of weeks as I scored a really cheap ticket.

I am thinking of not wasting my time, cutting my losses and just going to see something else.

[Sauja]

The reviews were brutal, weren't they? I can't imagine the next new Mamet going to Broadway, especially after the disastrous runs of China Doll and The Anarchist. He's well past his prime as both a dramatist and a provocateur. It truly feels like this would be some producer just throwing money in the trash.

[Impossible2]

Sauja said: "The reviews were brutal, weren't they? I can't imagine the next new Mamet going to Broadway, especially after the disastrous runs of China Doll and The Anarchist. He's well past his prime as both a dramatist and a provocateur. It truly feels like this would be some producer just throwing money in the trash."

Word of mouth has been shocking. The arse end of the run is all massively discounted.

[InTheBathroom1]

Whoever produces this on Broadway is an idiot.

[bwayphreak234]

Was it better or worse than China Doll? 

[Alex Kulak2]

I've heard the play is terrible, but it might have a chance based on names alone. If Malkovich stays with it, they could get enough pre-sales to justify a run.

There was an article about playwrights, and counting number of performances, Mamet is the most produced playwright of the 21st century, ahead of Arthur Miller and Shakespeare. He hasn't written a good play in 10 years (and hasn't written a great one in 24), but he's one of the few playwrights working today whose name can be a selling point.

[ggersten]

Jordan, more power to you. I had a chance to see Bitter Wheat, but after the reviews and comments on theatreboard, I passed.  This was one of the more creative reviews panning the play.   http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/review-bitter-wheat-garrick-theatre/

[Jordan Catalano]

This reminded me of a thread I startd 7 years ago about "The Anarchist" which still makes me laugh. And the writing style is pretty much the same for this show.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1053444#

Also, the argument that Malkovich alone is reason to bring this mess to Broadway seems a bit flawed, just seeing that Pacino couldn't even ensure a hit with "China Doll".  

[Miles2Go2]

Am I misremembering? Didn’t China Doll sell really, really well (because of Pacino) despite being a mess?

[Jordan Catalano]

Did it?? Maybe I’m the one totally misremembering it. I thought it closed very early. It’s also really early here in London and I only slept for 4 hours after getting back late from “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Barbican which (side note) was the absolute greatest production of that show I’ve EVER seen.

[Miles2Go2]

That’s great!!! It’s 1:30 a.m here in Oklahoma and my sleep cycle is all messed up.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Miles2Go2 said: "Am I misremembering? Didn’t China Doll sell really, really well (because of Pacino) despite being a mess?"

China Doll started really, really strong with its first five weeks or so breaking the million dollar mark, but that business dropped off pretty drastically after that. Its second to last week was less than four hundred thousand. It was clear that word of mouth caught up and overtook the strong initial weeks that Pacino's name alone brought in.

It was a pretty short run, starting at the end of October and closing at the end of January, but I don't remember if that was all it was scheduled or they ended up closing early.

[Miles2Go2]

Yeah, these numbers attest that it started out very, very strong then just fizzled out:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses/CHINA-DOLL

[Jordan Catalano]

Sounds exactly like what’s happening over here with “Bitter Wheat”. I bought the ticket a while ago and demand was really very high and the Dress Circle yesterday was maybe 60% filled.

[qolbinau]

I’ve managed to pick up a ticket for about 15 pounds in the orchestra for this show on TodayTix. It is staggering towards the end - but it did have a strong start. I haven’t heard a single person say a good thing about this play. I’m most afraid it’ll just be boring, which is the worst crime. What else are you seeing Jordan?

[Jordan Catalano]

That's the one thing I'll give Mamet. No matter how awful his plays might be, I'm never ever bored. I'm at least sitting there wondering what the hell I'm watching and who allowed this to happen. And yeah, like I said above act one and act two are so unbelievably disconnected in terms of writing style that it just makes it all the more confusing as to what you're actually seeing. 

I'm seeing Evita, Joseph, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Night of the Iguana, Starry Messenger, Fiddler (MARIA FRIEDMAN!) and a few more. 

[devonian.t]

Have a great time, Jordan.

[ggersten]

Jordan Catalano said: "I'm seeing Evita, Joseph, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Night of the Iguana, Starry Messenger, Fiddler (MARIA FRIEDMAN!) and a few more."

So, you're doing early Webber!  Adrian Mole is cute - hope you enjoy the nativity scene. And the theatre tis tiny. . Starry Messenger is supposedly looooong.   I've seen different views on Fiddler - I enjoyed their West End Live performance, but couldn't get a discounted ticket. 

Have a safe and fun time, and don't eat too much ice cream at the interval.

 

[Alex Kulak2]

Miles2Go2 said: "Yeah, these numbers attest that it started out very, very strongthen just fizzled out:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses/CHINA-DOLL"

Based on those numbers, do you think China Doll recouped? 12 million dollars is a lot of money, and even with Pacino's paycheck, it's only two actors and one set, so it's a low operating cost. They had to at least come close to breaking even.

[Miles2Go2]

Alex Kulak2 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "Yeah, these numbers attest that it started out very, very strongthen just fizzled out:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses/CHINA-DOLL"

Based on those numbers, do you thinkChina Dollrecouped? 12 million dollars is a lot of money, and even with Pacino's paycheck, it's only two actors and one set, so it's a low operating cost. They had to at least come close to breaking even."

Yep!

China Doll Recoups!

[Alex Kulak2]

Good lord. Have you ever heard of a play recouping before it's even out of previews?