David Mamet is making a play about Harvey Weinstein

David Mamet hasn’t written a hit play in years, however the one he’s simply completed has the potential to be a blockbuster. It’s about Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced film mogul who’s anticipated to show himself into New York authorities on Friday on sexual assault expenses. Mamet wrote the play, “Bitter Wheat,” earlier this yr on the urging of his longtime producer Jeffrey Richards. Mamet turned in a first draft a couple of weeks in the past, and Richards, sources say, has approached John Malkovich about enjoying the Weinstein character. Mamet tipped his hat about the brand new play in February to the Chicago Tribune: “I used to be speaking with my Broadway producer, and he stated, ‘Why don’t you write a play about Harvey Weinstein?’ And so I did.” Mamet wrote about sexual misconduct — and the murkiness that always surrounds it — in his terrific 1992 play “Oleanna.” It’s about a school scholar who activates her professor after they’ve had an affair. She accuses him of exploitation and ruins his profession. The play was vibrant and controversial — I bear in mind {couples} yelling at one another on the road after seeing it — however solely a courageous soul would stage it in these #MeToo instances, since Mamet clearly sides with the professor. The plan is to open Mamet’s new play in London. His final Broadway play, “China Doll,” starring Al Pacino, was a fiasco. Pacino had bother studying his strains, teleprompters had been put in all around the stage, audiences walked out angrily at intermission, and critics savaged the manufacturing. Sources say Mamet is cautious of one other run at Broadway until his Weinstein play will get a good reception in England. He’s bought a shot with Daniel Evans, the younger director who’s in talks to do it. The play’s potential star, John Malkovich.Alban Wyters/Startraksphoto Evans staged a well-received revival of Mamet’s “American Buffalo” in London a few years in the past and is now operating the Chichester Competition. However right here’s Evans’ problem: Mamet has been recognized to show in a first draft and never do the work to make it a good play. “China Doll,” about a loopy multimillionaire and a non-public jet, was pathetic. As The Publish reported, Mamet attended a couple of disastrous previews after which disappeared, leaving Pacino to fend for himself with teleprompters and unhealthy critiques. “Al was left hanging, and took the brunt of it,” a manufacturing supply informed me on the time. “David was gone.” One other supply says: “David arms within the play, after which he’s finished. He doesn’t hold round.” Malkovich, a terrific actor we haven’t seen sufficient of recently, needs to be cautious. If I had been his agent, I’d demand that Mamet be at each rehearsal and preview and be ready to rewrite what’s not working. This new play could possibly be a nice comeback for Malkovich, who hasn’t set foot on a Broadway stage since he electrified New York in Lanford Wilson’s “Burn This” in 1987. I’ve seen a lot of nice performances through the years, however few have come near Malkovich’s flip as Pale, a sensible, troubled coke addict. I can nonetheless see him virtually climbing the partitions of the Plymouth Theater. Malkovich as Weinstein is a nice thought. However I hope Richards has the facility to get one other good play out of Mamet. After producing first-rate revivals of Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “Pace-the-Plow,” Richards let “China Doll” journey to infamy. Don’t screw it up this time, Jeffrey. You’ll be able to hear Michael Riedel each weekday morning on “Len Berman and Michael Riedel within the Morning” on 710 WOR radio. Share this: https://nypost.com/2018/05/24/david-mamet-is-making-a-play-about-harvey-weinstein/ The post David Mamet is making a play about Harvey Weinstein appeared first on My style by Kartia.