There are very few actors whose appearance in a film or TV show will make me want to watch it regardless of anything else. John Goodman is one of those actors so it was a great thrill to be able to see him live in the West End. It’s not that he’s particularly different in each performance. Even though he does a nice line in villains from time to time and occasionally flirts with an accent he always looks and sounds pretty much as he did as Dan Connor in the long running, hit sit-com Roseanne, which made him a household name.What distinguishes him from other performers is his extraordinary presence on screen. He’s a big, sometime obese guy but it isn't just that. There’s a warmth and simplicity to everything he does which makes it impossible to take your eyes of him. Similar screen stars can’t always transfer that magic to live performance but I’m happy to report that he’s just as magnificent on stage at he is in the Coen Brother’s films.
In American Buffalo he plays Don, a dim, impoverished junk shop owner whose desire to think the best of people blunts his moments of ruthlessness.
This early work by the acclaimed David Mamet, is one of those plays where nothing very much happens on the surface. In common with much of his work there’s a mystery to be solved but the defining characteristic is the muscular, masculine dialogue with which working men seem to say little but under closer scrutiny reveal a great deal. So what you get is a series of often mundane exchanges between three social misfits who inhabit the shop and use it as a front to deal in stolen goods. What’s at stake is how much they can trust one another in the dealings surrounding a rare coin, the American Buffalo of the title.
Over the course of two hours the tension ratchets up so that by the end you’ve witnessed these characters dip into and emerge from their own little purgatory.
Over the course of two hours the tension ratchets up so that by the end you’ve witnessed these characters dip into and emerge from their own little purgatory. Expand on the themes and you get a searing examination on the nature of friendship and family at odds with the capitalism at the heart of the American Dream. And all this from watching 3 blokes bicker about who might or might not have sold a coin to who and why!
The other big news for theatre goers is that it’s a chance to see Brit actor Damian Lewis, who recently achieved international stardom thanks to his performance as tough ex-marine Brodie in the much loved TV thriller Homeland. He’s also been equally critically acclaimed as Henry VIII in the smash hit TV adaptation of the best selling Wolf Hall novels.
Lewis plays a shifty, petty-thief called Teach who’s paranoia and stubbornness leads to mistrust and violence among his friends. The actor employs a funny moustache, a whiny accent and a shrugging swagger to convince you of his versatility and ability to transform himself into a persona that’s a long way from anything he’s known for. For me such self-consciousness and obvious effort make him look ridiculous, particularly in scenes where he’s up against the effortlessly truthful and emotionally engaging John Goodman.
Completing the cast is another Brit, Tom Sturridge as Bob. He’s been making quite a name for himself on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to a series of critically acclaimed dramatic performances. Unlike Lewis this isn't a star, showing off. This is a truly gifted actor who completely submerges himself in a harrowing performance as a vulnerable young heroin addict who enjoys a very believable father/son relationship with Don. He is the object of Teach’s paranoia and ends up disbelieved and battered as a result. Like Goodman his performance seems so real, effortless and natural that Lewis looks fake and mannered in comparison.
You shouldn't be able to stop a show with the design of a junk shop but Paul Will’s set is so breathtaking the actors don’t start talking for a few moments at the start so you can absorb it.
It’s a memorable evening and you’ll experience some extraordinary acting from Goodman and Sturridge in a powerful play.
It’s a memorable evening and you’ll experience some extraordinary acting from Goodman and Sturridge in a powerful play. Perhaps Lewis will get more natural, under their influence, as the run continues.
For musical theatre actresses the role of Momma Rose is like KING LEAR. In fact to get the chance to play it is even more prestigious. Anyone can have a stab at Lear where as permission to play the lead part in the musical GYPSY is jealously guarded by those who control the performing rights. Only actresses of great pedigree and track record are allowed to headline in this classic Broadway show.