Written by David Mamet Genre Comedy Playwright David Mamet | Original language English First performance 17 January 2008 Place premiered Ethel Barry Theatre | |
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Characters President Charles Smith
Clarice Bernstein Date premiered January 17, 2008 (2008-01-17) Setting A few days before a major presidential election in the Oval Office of the White House Similar Romance, The Cryptogram, Faustus, The Shawl, Squirrels | ||
A look at david mamet s play november
November is a play written by David Mamet which premiered on Broadway in 2008.
Contents
Productions
November premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on December 20, 2007 (previews), officially on January 17, 2008 and closed on July 13, 2008 after 205 performances and 33 previews. The play was directed by Joe Mantello and starred Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf, Ethan Phillips, Michael Nichols and Dylan Baker. Metcalf received a Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Play.
The New England premiere took place at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston in October 2008, directed by Daniel Gidron.
It premiered at Houston's Alley Theatre in August 2012, directed by Sanford Robbins.
Overview
Billed as a comedy, November centers on President Charles Smith (originally played by Nathan Lane) several days before his second election. Metcalf played Clarice Bernstein, Smith's speechwriter, and Baker played Archer Brown, Smith's advisor. Phillips portrayed The Turkey Representative, and Nichols portrays Indian Chief Dwight Grackle.
Critical reception
The play received mixed reviews. Ben Brantley in The New York Times wrote that it is a "glib and jaunty new play", and that "Mr. Lane, it goes without saying, knows exactly how to pitch such lines, with a time-honed style that allows him to put the maximum spin on poisonous zingers and still keep the audience on his side."