The Old Vic presents an eccentric new version of David Mamet’s ultra-masculine play, Glengarry Glen Ross. Director Patrick Marber populates the show with middle-aged actresses. And why not? Devotees of Mamet may find it patchy but the play is so powerful that it can survive any amount of experimental tinkering.
The visuals are pretty incoherent and the Old Vic’s configuration gives the cast no help at all. The playing area is surrounded by concentric rings of seats, cage-fighting style, which makes the actors feel unsure where to pitch their performance. It’s like trying to post a letter while doing a twirl on the doorstep.
The play is so powerful that it can survive any amount of experimental tinkering
The action opens in a grubby Chinese restaurant with tables built on tropical fish tanks. The tanks are empty. Did someone eat the fish? Perhaps they ate each other as a nod to the storyline about sharky real-estate agents trying to sell retirement homes in Florida to wealthy pensioners. Dave and George conspire to break into the office and steal a secret list of contacts which a rival firm hopes to buy. Their plan is to disguise the theft as a random burglary but the police investigation exposes the real culprits.
