07/26/2010 12:00 am
Culture
Liz Smith: 'Race' – You'll Be Dying to Know
Our Gossip Girl has the ultimate theater round-up.
Eddie Izzard in "Race"/Photo by Carol Rosegg
"THIS IS a teachable moment." We keep hearing this remark whenever there’s a flare-up in racial tension and somebody has to apologize.
It popped up most recently in the incredible Shirley Sherrod incident of edited videotape, firing, re-hiring, pain for Ms. Sherrod and embarrassment for Barack Obama.
Hmmm … one might find more "teachable moments" in the Broadway play I am about to tell you about.
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THE PLAYWRIGHT David Mamet is not someone whose work I ever want to miss. His kind of cynical wisdom onstage in his serious plays never fails to draw shocked laughter from the audience that can dissect the wisdom in his contempt. I think, for instance, that the very profane and shocking language of "Glengarry Glen Ross" turns that play into an American masterpiece. It’s like listening to perfect serious music.
And while I didn’t much like his out-and-out comedy spoof of the Bush presidency, titled "November," which starred the talented Nathan Lane, I am very taken with his serious dramas. So I was late getting to his latest at the Ethel Barrymore Theater. "Race," which Mamet directed, had already lost three of its major actors retaining only the popular Richard Thomas and adding new shocks in the persons of Eddie Izzard, Dennis Haysbert and the dazzling leading lady, Afton C. Williamson.
"Race" says it all, taking race relations to a new high (or is it a new low?). The setting is the big conference room of a law office. The client is a wealthy, white, spoiled WASP, a man to whom nobody has ever said "No!"
The play opens with two partners, Izzard and Haysbert, trying to talk this rich client out of their representing him, trying to show him that he’ll probably be found guilty of raping a black woman and that he most likely can’t win. Izzard is his quirky self, off-hand, brilliant and shrewd. Haysbert is large, forbidding, dispassionately full of hatred, elegance and contempt.
Interestingly enough, though, the play functions on the question of race; these two partners, one white, one black, never tell us anything much about their relationship to one another. They are simply out to win, to make money, to dash the competition – and they are as one – in looking down on intelligences other than their own, very sure of themselves. Their gorgeous law clerk, Ms. Williamson, seems to be a match for both of them.
You’ll be dying to know what happens in "Race." Who wins, who loses, who forces who into a corner! All the most corrupt factions of what you love in "Law & Order" are here in this, the law part. It’s fascinating.
I thought the four actors were all splendid, Mr. Haysbert, who is familiar to us on TV as the president in "24," makes his stage debut … Mr. Izzard, who keeps burying the fact that he is such a great actor under his comic façade, is irresistible as the partner-bastard. (Maybe you saw him in the offbeat series drama about white gypsies in America – "The Riches." Unbelievably good!) Ms. Williamson is a find; great to look at, queenly and imperious in her intelligence – and in her morals too. But I was really overwhelmed by the considerable talents of Richard Thomas. The Playbill says this TV idol from the long-ago "Waltons" has been on Broadway for 51 years! Here, his rich man is a masterful, prissy, self-contained, confused, conflicted, well-tailored mess. It is quite a portrait.
"Race" is another riveting David Mamet play, full of horrible laughs, guilt, truths, pragmatism run wild and a shocking ending. Don’t miss it.
And I really mean – don’t miss it! This fabulous show closes on August 21. Run – don’t walk – for tickets.
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15 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
I have seen Richard Thomas many times on the stage and there is always such truth in his performances, whether drama or comedy or — best of all — a blend of both. He is a consummate actor who wears his celebrity lightly.
David Cuthbert, New Orleans
Shame on whoever it was in the White House and the NAACP for castigating and firing Ms. Sherrod before taking the time to see the entire tape of her speech. That’s a lot of egg to have to scrape off your face!
And it’s the second time in as many months that the NAACP has leapt to ridiculous conclusions before checking out the facts - remember the "black holes" debacle?
Why has no one taken to task the irresponsible jerk who released only the portion of the tape that suited his extremist agenda?
Thanks for the tip, Liz! "Race" sounds extraordinary, just as most of Mamet’s work has proven over the years. I can honestly say that when I saw "Glengarry Glen Ross" on Broadway I was so stunned by how bold and new and real the action onstage was that I felt as though someone had given me a shot of adrenalin straight to the heart! The film version? Equally amazing in terms of great acting, but lacking the punch of seeing Mamet’s work live.
I’ve adored both Eddie Izzard and Richard Thomas for many years - inspired casting, I would say. The theme sounds heavy, but as recent events clearly show - the question of race has not been fully answered, despite many great strides. We have miles to go. And miles and miles.
In my bucket list I have a weekend where I’d go to NY city and stay in a 5 star hotel, see a few plays, eat a nice place and enjoy the company of my children and their spouses. I’m not sure it will ever happen, but I’m starting to make my bucket list a reality, with the recent heart problems, and cancer I need to start doing all the things I’ve put off. I’m not in debt, w/ the except of 4 more car payments and then my income is for monthly bills and saving to do the things I never got to do, like seeing a Broadway Show on Broadway, not while it’s on tour. Being in the audience of the View, meeting Whoopi, and Sandra Bullock, having my book published. Thanks to you Liz and the other ladies/gents of WoW you’ve given me goals to work towards. I enjoy your opinions and just wish I had the money to do all that others seem to be able to do. I’m a fighter and I’ll get there, I’m pushing for Nov 9th, my 55th bday to go see a Broadway play, maybe yes maybe no, depends on how much I can save between now and then.
Love you Liz and all you do for us, the middle American women with dreams. :) Deni
Deni, I hope you get to complete your bucket list and keep adding to it as the years progress. You are, still, a young woman and with your fighting spirit, I foresee many exciting adventures in your future.
I don’t comment here much anymore, but I do occasionally like to scan the comments. I always find your comments to be thoughtful, intelligent, kind and engaging.
My best wishes to you. Dabney