(L-R) Teachers B (Rod McLachlan) and A (John Pankow) discuss in lightning-fast Mamet fashion the problems of the day. (Ari Mintz)
Things start out wonderfully with the two-person play "School." Set in a modern day grade or middle school, the piece eavesdrops on teachers "A" (John Pankow) and "B" (Rod McLachlan) as they discuss the environmental effects of recycled paper, which is being used by the students.
Soon the conversation veers off into the realms of physics, history (such as the firebombing of Dresden), sex, marriage, philosophy, and the rights of society versus the rights of the individual. Also touched on is the need to practice what one preaches and that what is environmentally correct may not always be the right way to go.
The dialogue is classic Mamet, delivered with the back and forth delivery of two top tennis professionals, Pankow and McLachlan matching each other joust for verbal joust. There are no character definitions or descriptions here; the message of the words is the most important thing.
Neil Pepe's direction is sharp and Takeshi Kata's set realistic, with the actors nicely projecting the auras of two tired teachers trying to reason through a problem while also trying to get through the day.
Second on the bill is "Keep Your Pantheon" In an acting school in ancient Rome, the actor Strabo (the always dependable Brian Murray) is on the verge of financial ruin. Currently, he is teaching his craft to his only pupil Philius (Michael Cassidy), a young wannabe actor with no talent whatsoever.
(L-R) Todd Weeks, Michael Cassidy, John Pankow, and Brian Murray in David Mamet‘s short play, "Keep Your Pantheon." (Ari Mintz)
Just as all seems lost, Strabo and company are invited to play a comedy gig at a nearby location. But they accidentally arrive at the wrong house and end up doing their act at a memorial service for soldiers killed on the battlefield, their material mocking the very people who have been slain.
For this blasphemy, Strabo, Philius, and Pelargon are thrown into the dungeon, but Lupus Albus (Jordan Lage), the leader of the soldiers, is so impressed by Strabo's plea for mercy, that he offers him a chance for his life. However, Strabo must give the performance of a lifetime; if he is unsuccessful, a quick beheading will be the result.
The play is a wonderful send-up of actors with big egos who believe that they would be on top were it not for unfortunate circumstances. (The bane of Strabo's existence is a competing troupe of actors, who he curses every chance he gets.)
Murray is wonderful as the scheming Strabo, a man who believes firmly in his thespian powers and who also works every angle he can to survive, from teaching hopeless students of wealthy families, to stealing a coin from a seemingly homeless beggar (Jack Wallace).
Pankow is good as the cynical Pelargon, tired of Strabo's endless schemes, but sticking with him until the end. Cassidy is fun as the totally inept Philius—proving once again that it takes an accomplished actor to make a character come off as really bad on stage, but still make the role work in the context of the story.
Of the supporting characters, Lage is nicely regal as the leader of the Roman troops, while Wallace and Steven Hawley work well in their roles, the latter as a combination town crier and walking pre-mass media advertisement for local goods.
Unfortunately, the story tends to sag at points and needs to be played sharper and faster in order to really work. Additionally, there are several scenes, such as Strabo going on and on about the misfortunes that have befallen him, which could easily be taken out or condensed.
Pepe's direction works far better in the first piece where he kept the actors on a tight leash and subservient to the dialogue. Conversely here, the actors are given too much room to expand on characters that are not as clearly defined as they could be.
"Two Unrelated Plays" are funny enough, it's just that one might like to see "School" expanded and "Keep Your Pantheon" tightened in order to help both realize their full potential.
Also in the cast are Todd Weeks, Jonathan Rossetti, J.J. Johnston, and Jeffrey Addiss.
Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet: Keep Your Pantheon and School
Atlantic Theater Company
Linda Gross Theater
336 West 20th Street
Tickets: 212-279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com
Running Time: Approximately 70 minutes
Closes: Nov. 1
Judd Hollander is the New York correspondent for the London publication The Stage.
