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Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum

First night: Speed-the-Plow

Old Vic Theatre

Twin leads Spacey and Goldblum are magnetically watchable, but there's a whiff of déja vu to proceedings, reckons our critic Mark Shenton...

David Mamet's movie-making satire keeps coming around.

It was originally seen on Broadway in 1988, with Madonna as the secretarial temp to a film mogul, whom she persuades to green-light a project about radiation over the trashy prison drama he's agreed to make with a long-time colleague.

"It's no wonder that actors are attracted to this play: there's plenty to get their teeth into..."
Mark Shenton on the play that keeps coming around

In 1989 it received its British premiere at the National Theatre, starring a young actress called Rebecca Pidgeon, who soon persuaded Mamet to green-light her into his life, over the wife he was then married to.

The play's hurtling satire on the opportunism of human beings and the competing demands of art and commerce became reflected offstage as well as on.

It was revived in the West End in 2000, with a cast that included playwright/ actor Patrick Marber and Mark Strong.

And now Speed-the-Plow gets its third London production in less than twenty years, courtesy of Kevin Spacey's Old Vic, where it provides a peach of a part for Spacey himself, paired up with another sometime movie star, Jeff Goldblum.

modern monster

Together, they bring an authentic whiff of Hollywood desperation to the play, no doubt based on their years of heady experience dealing with just these kinds of people.

Spacey has also played another modern monster of movie moguldom in the original 1994 film Swimming with Sharks, recently brought to the London stage by Christian Slater.

Laura Michelle Kelly: stand-out turn

So if there's an inevitable feeling of déjà vu to the proceedings, it's because we have not only been here before with this play, but also even more recently with the world it inhabits.

But it's a tribute to both actors and to Matthew Warchus's gritty, witty rollercoaster of a production - featuring a stand-out turn from London's original stage Mary Poppins, Laura Michelle Kelly, as the secretary - that it repays another visit.

It is no wonder that actors are attracted to this play: there's plenty to get their teeth into.

Goldblum - tall, tanned and trim - and Spacey, squatter and more stocky, are a magnetically watchable study in physical contrasts, but both bring a lolloping, free-wheeling intensity to their roles.

Speed-the-Plow is at the Old Vic, The Cut, SE1. Box office: 0870 060 6628. Booking to 26 April 2008

last updated: 11/11/2008 at 15:11
created: 13/02/2008

Have Your Say

Ben
I loved Speed The Plow, I’m not usually a theatre person but went because I’m a big fan of Jeff Goldblum. I went not really knowing what to expect but left amazed. Goldblum and Spacey proved what great actors they both are with some extraordinary quick fire lines with a lot of excitement and charisma. The first scene was loud, quick, exciting and funny. The second scene was a bit more reserved and calm. Lastly the 3rd scene was violent, emotional and an angry scene.I would definitely go and see it again, and it has made me realise that theatre has more to offer than what I first thought. I would love to see Jeff Goldblum back doing something else in London as soon as possible.

Charlie
I thought this was fantastic, Spacey and Goldblum played off each other excellently, creating two believable characters with real history and purpose. I have to disagree with the other comments about LMK, I thought she was excellent and the 2nd act being slower was completely neccessary. In retrospect you look back on that scene and see how pivotal it is. Obviously in terms of entertainment, acts 1 & 2 have it, but you can't deny a great perfomance from an actress who easily held her weight against two a-listers. Plus, I thought the lighting and set were brilliant, and I particularly enjoyed the orchestral version of Britney's 'Toxic' at the end!

Queenie
I could barely sit through most of this play. The entire 2nd act put me to sleep, and I agree with the previous poster, Kelly was irritating and whiny through all of it. The only redeeming feature was Spacey, he shone in each of his scenes. A pity the play did not showcast more of him.

samantha
I agree with Allison. The middle act with LMK stepping into the spotlight is the weak link and you just long for Kevin Spacey to step back onto the stage. Acts 1 & 3 with Jeff Goldblum and KS are excellent.

Allison
Would certainly have to agree that Spacey and Goldblum are fantastic. Both of them have an incredible ability to riff off each other and it's fun just to watch them. On the other hand, the second act with Laura Michelle Kelly stops the play in it's tracks. It's dull flat and it seems utterly ridiculous. She whines on like some naive school child and is completely unsympathetic/unbelievable. It's a relief when the third act starts up again and you can go back to enjoying the play.

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First night: Speed-the-Plow

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Speed-the-Plow is at the Old Vic, The Cut, SE1. Box office: 0870 060 6628. Booking to 26 April 2008

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First night: Speed-the-Plow

modern monster

Speed-the-Plow is at the Old Vic, The Cut, SE1. Box office: 0870 060 6628. Booking to 26 April 2008

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