NEW YORK — The umbrella title is "Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet," but that's a misnomer.
The two, "School" and "Keep Your Pantheon," are related – by laughs. The double bill, now on view at off-Broadway's Atlantic Theater Company, are slight but funny comedies by the man who has given us much more weighty works such as "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "Speed-the-Plow."
Still, there are a parade of chuckles and a couple of outright guffaws to be found in these works, especially "Pantheon," a neat bit of inspired buffoonery directed by Neil Pepe. The play may be set in ancient Rome, yet it's more reminiscent of 20th-century burlesque sketches. Think "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" without the music.
Only now we are in the company of a sad-sack troupe of actors, headed by a broken-down – and broke – acting teacher named Strabo, played by the gloriously hangdog Brian Murray. The rent is due, there are no acting gigs in sight, and Strabo has designs on a pretty but dim boy (a hilarious Michael Cassidy) who has trouble thinking and speaking at the same time. But wait. A job may be in the offing at the Sicilian Cork Festival. But first, this ragged band of players has to audition.
Therein lies a surprisingly convoluted plot, particularly for a play that lasts only a little over 60 minutes. Murray and Cassidy are joined by an excellent band of actors including John Pankow, Todd Weeks, Rod McLachlan and several Mamet veterans including J.J. Johnston, Jordan Lage and Jack Wallace.
AP | Posted 05.13.2012