David Mamet's "The Anarchist"

Well, you can't win 'em all.

David Mamet's play The Anarchist appears to have flopped, according to a Los Angeles Times article. The Broadway drama closed just a few days ago after receiving lackluster reviews from the critics and half-hearted reception from audiences. I haven't seen or read the play yet, so I'll obviously reserve commentary. However, I will say I am saddened I didn't get to experience watching the two remarkable performers Patti LuPone and Debra Winger tackle Mamet's signature style of dialogue in this two-hander.

In The Anarchist LuPone's character is a convict who, after 35 years of imprisonment, tries to persuade Winger's character that she deserves parole. All female casts are a rarity in Mamet's plays; his more famous works include the male dominated dramas such as Glengarry Glen Ross or the intense boy vs. girl Oleanna. That alone makes The Anarchist intriguing to me. Too bad I won't get the chance to see it on Broadway. Then again, Mamet is a dish best served in black box theater.