Dan's Papers - December 21, 2007 - Hampton Theatre Company's Glengarry Glen Ross

With the turn of 2008 comes the Hampton Theatre Company's rendition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play turned independent film Glengarry Glen Ross, a show that features two days in the life of four desperate Chicago real estate salesmen, and the lengths they will go to make a sale. The play takes place at the end of the month when the pressure is on, as the bosses of the company, Mitch and Murray, have started a contest in which the winner will win a Cadillac.

Act 1 takes place in a restaurant and is broken down into three scenes, where the salesmen are engaged in conversations with each other and with themselves, involving bribery, threats and despair, among other things, all focused on their sales. Act 2 takes place in the office, which has been robbed, the next day. A police detective arrives to interrogate the salesmen. A few shady real estate sales are made in the meantime, but the thief is eventually detained.

Glengarry Glen Ross, written by David Mamet, first opened in 1983 at the National Theatre in London and made its Broadway debut in 1984 with a year long run, receiving four Tony award nominations and one win for Best Actor. In 1992, Mamet's screenplay version of the play was adapted into a film starring big Hollywood names including Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris and East Ender Alec Baldwin. Besides several scenes that were added to the film, different locales are referenced, as the play is set in Chicago but the film makes references to Manhattan, and the ending is also slightly altered. But the two works remain consistent in their theme and excessive use of profanity. Al Pacino received the Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film.

The seven-man cast includes both Hampton Theatre Company (HTC) veterans and newcomers. The role of Ricky Roma, the most successful salesman in the office with a serious lack of morals, will be played by Edward Kassar, who also starred in HTC's Breaking Legs last season. The role of the desperate salesman who needs the money the most, Shelly Levene, which was made famous by Jack Lemmon in the big screen version, will be played by Phil Eberhardt, another HTC veteran who also performed in HTC's The Price. Andrew Botsford will play the role of Dave Moss, a resentful salesman with a big mouth. Seasoned actor and director George A. Loizides will portray a man of the same name, George Aaronow, a salesman with low self-esteem. HTC first-timer Robert Sean Miller will play the role of office manager John Williamson. Paul Marino returns to HTC in the role of James Lingk, a shy man who is also Roma's client, and the role of detective Baylen will be played by Billy Paterson.

Bob Kaplan, who made his debut with HTC as an actor in The Price, will direct and Sarah Hunnewell and Diana Marbury will produce. The set is designed by Peter Marbury, assisted by James Ewing, Sebastian Paczynski will do lighting and costumes are by Teresa Lebrun.

The Hampton Theatre Company was founded in 1984 and runs from September through June at the Quogue Community Hall. The company has produced over sixty critically acclaimed performances, drawing talented local actors from the Hamptons community. Additional upcoming 2008 HTC productions include The Oldest Living Graduate and Moon Over Buffalo.

Glengarry Glen Ross will be performed from January 10-27 on Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Quogue Community Hall, located at 126 Jessup Avenue in Quogue. Tickets are $22 adults, $20 for seniors on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and $10 for students under 21. For more information call 631-653-8955, email hamptontheatre@optonline.net or visit www.hamptontheatre.org.