The Classical Source For All The Performing, Visual And Literary Arts & Entertainment News
Classical

Broadway Play 'The Anarchist' Set For Early Closure

One of the more recent works of playwright David Mamet took a nose dive on Broadway as his "The Anarchist," starring Debra Winger and Patti LuPone will close early, according to the New York Times.

Mamet's Broadway play has made one of the quickest exits for a new work by a noted playwright on the scene in several years according to the news outlet. "The Anarchist," only lasted through 23 previews and 17 performances, the producers of the show announced on Tuesday that the two-character play was set to run to Dec. 16.

Mamet's play debuted on Nov. 13 and had an opening date on Dec.2. Like Kathie Lee Gifford's show "Scandalous," "The Anarchist" received scathing reviews from critics, with many of them labeling the play "dull" and "boring."

The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney said the play can be best described as "aridly intellectual two-hander" that is "desiccated, dull and virtually without drama."

Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press said that the piece "seems more like a fragment of a play, or an acting exercise or a film short." 

Lending to the criticism with somewhat damning comments was star LuPone who said that the play's content was difficult to master.

"This is truly truly among the most challenging things I've ever done," she told Playbill. "It was one of the hardest things to memorize. It's really ideas David is presenting as two sides of an argument."

Mamet's "The Anarchist," closure might be making way for his highly-anticipated play "Glengarry Glen Ross," that is set to debut at the Schoenfeld Theater this month.

Ironically his original "Glengarry Glen Ross," in 1984 racked up 378 performances while on the circuit. The 2012 edition will star veteran actor Al Pacino and Bobby Cannavale.

Real Time Analytics