James Spader and cast of David Mamet's Race

David Mamet can always be counted on to have a provocative idea or two up his sleeve, and that's certainly the case with his newest play, Race, which officially opens at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on December 6 under the playwright's direction. The show concerns a firm of racially integrated lawyers that must defend a wealthy white man accused of a vicious crime. TheaterMania spoke with the play's four stars, James Spader, Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, and Richard Thomas, about the play and working with Mamet.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• James Spader
• Kerry Washington
• David Alan Grier
• Richard Thomas
• David Mamet
• Broadway
• Lawyers
• Race

[Denisehealthnut]

I saw it last night! James Spader aced it but I have a bone to pick with Mamet in terms of the play's content and what I felt he was trying to say.

Overall I'm glad I saw it.

[TRwalnut]

once you see this play you will NEVER see any musical theatre show again...you realize how stupid musical theatre is and how important it is for plays like this one to exist!

[ritsfata]

I think it's fantastic that Mamet directed his own work. That is often where the best work is created, when the playwright is directly involved in the creation in their pieces.

[TRwalnut]

did anyone see the replacement cast? or any understudies? how were they?

saw it twice original cast...it was very different both times...its an hour and a hlaf mind fuck....incredible play!

[FungusMossGnosis]

@TRwalnut "NEVER see any musical theatre show again"

I guess Weill and Brecht is out then. . .damn.

[RichieEastside]

I used to date this girl, Claudia, and if she were black then she'd look EXACTLY like Kerry Washington. How stupid I was to dump her for my wife.

...just kidding ;)

...but still...

:P

[RadioTangible]

Holy 3 day old Times Square Canoli, is that John Boy!

Goodnight pa.

[RadioTangible]

David Allen G is awesome; you can tell in spite of the corny clip. I've wanted to see him in something by Mamet for years. He is hyper articulate, which is Mamet's wheelhouse.

Is the whole thing that corny? Did Mamet just churn this puppy out to make history when it was clear Hillary was toast?

[RadioTangible]

Where the hell have I seen Kerry Washington?

I have seen her in something... why is every calling performance her "awful and dreadful"? Is she too attractive for the part? Is she a lazy bones with her dialogue? She called it Mamet-speak, as if people have reminded her too many times how important it is to recite, every, single, word, as, written, to, achieve, the, desired, result. "Mamet speak"? Is that anything like crazy "Shakespeare talk"?

[RadioTangible]

James Spader "wanted badly". Is he kidding? This guy speaks English well, almost all the time in everything;

He sounds like he is doing Alec Baldwin take off, no?