Salesmanship

A belated review of Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. Saw this about two months ago; great cast that was able to put across the difficult Mamet dialogue with strong characterizations. Like other works by the author, the text is repetitive and requires a forced, staccato delivery -- if done well, this comes across not only natural but critical to the plot and personalities. In this production, particularly in the role played by Alan Alda, the delivery is almost musical.

While fellow cast-member Liev Shreiber won the Tony for his role, it is Alda's  character that drives the play. Alda manages to make the broken arcs of plot that could be hidden by profanity quite clear; and his naturally engaging persona is a great balance to the pity that we eventually feel for him.

Finally, students of writing should read this play very carefully as it is a masterwork of plotting, yet is so clear and simple in its delivery that it is very hard to see exactly how it was put together. From the first act setting in a Chinese restaurant, with its triptych of two-person dialogues, to the second act after-the-burglary chaos and resolution, there's barely a sentence or a plot-point which isn't singularly crafted to add to the play's impact.