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Playhouse coins complex ‘American Buffalo’
By Eric McCrea
Youngstown
As Summer picks up momentum, the Youngstown Playhouse concludes its regular 2015-16 season with David Mamet’s “American Buffalo.” A caper drama, set in the mid-’70s, “Buffalo” is filled with Mamet’s typical use of dialogue not to be used by minors, showcasing everyday gents in unusual circumstances.
Donny, played by Matthew Mazuroski, owns a junk shop, and after selling a buffalo nickel for a hefty sum, he begins to suspect he could have made much more. With the assistance of his young hang-about friend Bobby (Mark Warchol) a heist is planned to retrieve the coin. The plan becomes more complicated when “Teach,” played by Timothy Thomas, joins in and decides to up the stakes. As the caper begins to snowball out of control, tensions rise, and confidence in these would-be burglars wanes.
Director Pat Foltz really sunk her teeth into this meaty show. She captured the underlying tone of “Buffalo” by subtly peeling away the layers of machismo to reveal the beaten down remnants of these three characters. Her choice to omit the curtain call left a resonating feeling of regret and sadness echoing with the audience for hours after the conclusion.
Mazuroski was a solid foundation for the show. The script didn’t give him any major moments to really shine, but the challenge with this role was the endurance, as Donny is on stage from beginning to end. His experience was palpable and invaluable. His general character was light-hearted, but there was always a sense of some deep emotions being hidden by a false smile.
Warchol was phenomenal as the eager-to-please young Bobby. He showed his character’s flaws unabashedly and still elicited a sincere heartfelt sympathy from the audience. The slow momentum of the story made his nuance questionable in the beginning, but the payoff was worthwhile.
“Teach” is a driving force behind the conflict in this story, and like a wild card, Thomas played this role with complexity, without being predictable. He was explosive and intense, making the floor feel like eggshells. His name has become synonymous with great theater.
“American Buffalo” is slow to pick up, but as it does, a sense of doom grows. Though the payoff is worth it, the buildup takes its time and gives the actors little substance early in the first act. As the story moves along slowly, punctuated with seemingly mundane conversation, you begin to realize that this robbery is going to go sideways, but you wonder: How?
The immersive set designed by Foltz and Mazuroski is impressive and draws the audience right into the story, as if they’re an item on the shelf of Donny’s shop. Elegant lighting design by Ellen Licitra and continuous ambient sound designed by Johnny Pecano perfectly complete this effect.
Overall, this show was a well-polished bookend to the Youngstown Playhouse’s season, but the heavy use of very adult language makes this inappropriate for younger audiences.
“American Buffalo” runs today at 2:30 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30. For reservations, call 330-788-8739.