STUNT CAST THE PLOW?

The performance reviewed below was a Preview, taking place on September 25th 2014 at the Playhouse Theatre. Speed-The-Plow officially opens on October 2nd.

With the first night of previews making headlines around the world, it was with slight trepidation that I approached Speed-The-Plow. Controversially starring Lindsay Lohan, who is known more by virtue of past behaviour rather than talent as one of the most famous people in the world. I was a little perturbed by the previous day's bad form of reporters publishing headlines before the show had opened, embellishing stories of prompts as crass headlines, but I'm not here to defend Lohan, only to give my review.

And guess what? There is talent, undiminished, an actual shining light in this satirical look at 1980s Hollywood, that even without cell phones, rings just as true today.

Lohan is Karen, a part famously played by Madonna (to some interesting notices herself...) Karen is a temporary secretary, ambitious and knowingly naive, her presence in the play serves as a tonic to an ailing head of production who is happily taken in by her youthful eagerness to make quality movies. Richard Schiff is excellently world weary as the 'promoted' Bob Gould, whose best buddy, the rumbustious Charlie Fox (Nigel Lindsay) comes to him with a dream pitch, the most famous actor in the world has approached them with the intention of starring in some meg-bucks prison movie. The key here is power - David Mamet slyly ribs but also folds the play over, as Gould, excited and strong at first, is drawn to Karen in the guise of a good old fashioned misogynistic seduction bet, but then happily taken in by the promise he is a good man after all. Schiffs's transformation is cool, and handled with an innate poise. Opposite him Lohan emotes with the passion of the young and not yet ruined by Hollywood... (There are belly laughs from the audience when Karen belies her lack of experience 'I don't know what I'm doing' but, Lohan knows the Meta humour at work here, she delivers it with aplomb.)

Speed-The-Plow is a small play about big ideas, with snappy dialogue and a sleek sheen; the sets and design is happily period, not much to write home about (except I covet Karen's sharp business suit.) Though overall the whole approach seems somewhat slapdash, this is, above all, an example of incredibly canny casting. Despite the best efforts of the hardened thesps, no one is here to see them, and they know that, but they want it to be good too. And so does Lohan, she is good. In the final Act, she marvellously handles Karen's confusion and desperation against Charlie Fox, whose own desperation is slightly terrifying. The part isn't a stretch for her, but it has enough comic energy and theatrical whack to be seen as a good start, hopefully the shadow of things to come.

Great night out for?

A nicely intelligent and slightly exciting night out with a mate.

Recommend to friends?

Sure, especially those interested in the star wattage of Lohan.

Best bit?

'We have a f**king meeting!'

Morning after effect?

I have a feeling I just saw a bit of pop-culture history in the making.

By Kitty McCarron @ThisisKittyMac

View our show pages for more information about Speed-The-Plow, Playhouse Theatre.