Damian Lewis and John Goodman 'terrific' in American Buffalo

Daniel Evans has revived David Mamet's drama, starring Damian Lewis, John Goodman and Tom Sturridge. It runs at Wyndham's Theatre until 27 June.

Michael Coveney, WhatsOnStage

★★★

"David Mamet's first international hit has been respectfully and self-consciously revived by director Daniel Evans with three terrific actors"

"it all needs a bit more savagery"

"the evening lacks heat and real excitement, but not for want of production back-up"

Michael Billington, Guardian

★★★★

"Through the microscopic realism of its portrait of three American no-hopers, played here by a stellar trio of John Goodman, Damian Lewis and Tom Sturridge, it reverberates with political and ethical possibilities."

"Daniel Evans’s production is meticulous in its psychological and physical detail"

"All three actors are very fine but the great virtue of this production is that it is more than a showpiece for stars"

Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph

★★★

"Lots of the right things are in place, effort has been expended. Yet it hasn’t yet translated into something that sets pulses racing, nerves a-quiver."

"It looks like a Mamet, sounds like a Mamet but a strain of British restraint and rather unmacho gentleness creeps in."

"it’s all enjoyable enough but a bit dime-a-dozen"

Quentin Letts, Daily Mail

★★★

"The veteran Goodman – who, hard to believe, is making his West End debut – is a class act"

"Some hold this play to be a 20th-century American classic. I hesitate to go that far. It lacks the menace or linguistic spareness of Pinter (there is a lot of swearing)."

Dominic Maxwell, The Times

★★

"surprisingly sluggish revival"

"Here, the stage is cluttered not only by the detritus of Paul Wills’s set but also by an abundance of acting."

"Goodman never looks as if he acting and he’s the one who injects the heat into this disappointingly lukewarm evening."

American Buffalo runs at Wyndham's Theatre until 27 June