‘Plow’ script nailed with good acting

“Speed-the-Plow,” the title of David Mamet’s 90-minute comedy about fast moves in the Hollywood film biz, refers to an old saying that means “good luck.” By the end of the play, which opened last night and runs through Sunday at the Opera House in Bangor, the expression is rife with innuendo that reveals the darker side of human need and greed.

From their first sleazy grins, old friends Bobby Gould, head of production, and Charlie Fox, a film producer giddy with a titillating script and an agreement from an A-list actor, dive headlong into what happens when a person becomes a slave to commerce.

And not just one person, but three. The whorishly ambitious men are derailed by Karen, a temp worker barely capable of making coffee. Drunk on their anticipation of tomorrow’s pitch to the studio head, the men shift their focus from their avarice to a menacing gentle-

man’s wager. Can Bobby persuade Karen to sleep with him?

Turns out, Karen has a script of her own. And her seductress methods are no less depraved.

Collaboratively directed by actors Rich Kimball, Kae Cooney and Adam Kuykendall, and produced in conjunction with Penobscot Theatre, the show entertainingly captures the nerve-wracking, caustic, jabbing humor of Mamet’s themes. “Plow” is subtler than “Glengarry Glen Ross” but no less cynical.

A sleek minimalist set highlighted by blocky bold color allows the trio, as well as a skillful technical team – notably Jenny Bragdon’s percussive and hip musical contribution – to work handily through the zigs and zags of the script. Both Kimball (Bobby) and Cooney (Karen) give admirable performances, and the three actors work carefully as an ensemble. But the night belongs to Kuykendall, who has a sharp ear for Mamet’s rhythmic writing and a smart sense of Charlie’s character.

A few nuances about the L.A. milieu are slightly off and some lines are lost on the hollow stage. Nevertheless, “Speed-the-Plow” is a contender for the most memorable show of the summer.

“Speed-the-Plow,” which may not be appropriate for children, plays Aug. 6-8 at the Opera House in Bangor. For information, call 942-3333.