Chatham Players' 'Glengarry' Does Mamet Justice

In a well-done production of "Glengarry Glen Ross," the tension is palpable the minute the first characters take the stage. And on the opening weekend of David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play by the , the tension hung in the air like fog from the moment the lights came up.

The play depicts two days in lives of four real estate salesmen who are desperate to make sales as they compete to get their names on “the board” and win a Cadillac. The play’s title comes from the two Florida developments they are selling – Glengarry Highlands and Glen Ross Farms.

Shelly Levene, played with a touching mix of strength and vulnerability by Michael King of New Providence, is the oldest of the salesmen and down on his luck. He is desperate for sales so he can pay the medical bills for his sick daughter. When the play opens, he and the new office manager, young upstart John Williamson (Jeffrey Jackson of Far Hills) are dining in a Chinese restaurant.

Levene is asking, even begging, for more of the office’s best sales leads. Williamson repeatedly turns him down, saying he can’t have the best leads because he hasn’t been closing any sales. Levene counters that he can’t close sales without good leads.

The first act also introduces Dave Moss (Jeff Maschi of Highland Park), a brash and gutsy salesman who tells fellow salesman, George Aaronow (Bob Mackasek of Union) of his plan to have the office robbed and the prime Glengarry leads stolen so he can sell them to a competitor; and Ricky Roma (David Cantor of Berkeley Heights) the office’s top salesman who is working to gain the confidence of insecure and henpecked James Lingk (Lorenzo Sapienza of Bridgewater).

When the salesmen return to the office the next day and discover it’s been robbed and the leads stolen, each are questioned privately by a harried policeman, Baylen (Frank Briamonte of Scotch Plains) and an angry Williamson. Things come to a head when Lingk shows up in the midst of the chaos, saying he has to cancel his contract.

The Chatham Players do Mamet’s script real justice. These are not roles for weak actors – even the meek Lingk has to convey barely suppressed anger – and these actors infuse their characters with a gripping passion and realism.

The first act introduces each character and a bit of their backstory, but in the second act the play really comes to life. The actors each bring his character’s frustrations into sharp focus, and the anger and despair in each of them is so real that it’s easy to forgive all the cursing (although the play is not recommended for children).

"Glengarry Glen Ross" is directed by Emmy-nominated Chase Newhart, and produced by Robert Lukasik, long-time member of the Chatham Community Players. Chris Furlong, another long-time associate of the Players, is executive producer.

Remaining performance dates are March 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. and March 13 at 3 p.m. All performances are at the Chatham Playhouse, 23 N. Passaic Ave. in Chatham. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for youths and seniors. For more information, call the box office at (973) 635-7363 or visit www.chathamplayers.org.