Theatre Royal, Lincoln (May, '97)

Hollywood at its worst was theatre at its best last night...
David Mamet's brillant and funny play Speed The Plow previewed in the Theatre Royal and you'd be wise to catch it before it opens in London's West End.
The play takes a satirical look at the studio system of the American movie industry. It's pacy, punchy and packed with wonderful one-liners.
The back-stabbing, sycophancy and bitching are portrayed in all their glory through the two main characters Fox, a writer, and Gould, a studio executive.
Fox and Gould think they have come up with a winning formula for a film, which they are about to sell to a studio.
They have 24 hours before the big meeting which could make their fortune, but fate throws a spanner in the works in the shape of Gould's temporary secretary Karen (Alexa Hamilton), who somehow convinces him he should be making a movie for art's sake instead of for money.
David Soul and Michael Brandon were a dazzling double act, bouncing lines off each other in quick-fire exchanges.
The staccato dialogue was kept up at a phenomenal pace. If they handed out Oscars for plays, this one should sweep the board!

Kate Hinder