Speed-the-Plow

Synopsis

A satirical play about money and movies - desire and ambition. The three-hander focuses on a producer called Bobby and his decision, brought about by his seduction by a temporary secretary, to film a novel about a nuclear catastrophe and the end of the world rather than the star-laden, sure-fire hit brought to him by his friend Charlie. The original Broadway production starred Madonna while the British premiere was produced by the National in 1989.

Our Review:

13 February 2008

Twenty years old now, and first seen in New York with Madonna driving a wedge between two best buddies in the movie business, David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow has lost none of its bravura brilliance or ironic take on Hollywood creative morality.

In Matthew Warchus’s crackling revival, Jeff Goldblum and Kevin Spacey prove the hottest double act in town. Bobby Gould (Goldblum) is a newly promoted studio mogul whose sidekick – they started out in the mailroom together – the desperate, dishevelled Charlie Fox (Spacey), has hooked a big star from a rival studio with the bait of a prison movie with lots of sex, violence and titillation.

The snap and urgency of the situation comes from the star’s insistence that the project is given the green light within 24 hours. This becomes a problem when the head honcho, the unseen Ross, disappears on other business and delays the decisive meeting until the next morning.

Goldblum is about eight feet tall and as e...

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Latest User Review

rds - 23 March 2008:

Joesmith must have been day dreaming? Goldblum & Spacey were magnificent. Spacey in particular, in exquiste manic mode, gave out enough energy to light a small town so gawd knows what his carbon footprint must be like? lol! Perhaps, Laura Michelle Kelly could have produced something more interesting in her character, but maybe Matthew Wachus didn't want it that way? In anyway it didn't detract for me from the two star performers and an absolutely terrific one too from Spacey, one that will linger long in the mind. A not unsurprising sold out run that won't disappoint the punters. ...

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