Proving their past successes were no fluke, Theatre Erindale’s recent production of Glengarry Glen Ross at the Hart House Theatre was yet another excellent performance. The play is a brutal look into the world of real estate, and for those who have seen the film, this show had the imposing shadow of the performances of these same roles by major celebrities looming over it.
Yet the show and the performances were, for the most part, enthusiastic and original. The director made cuts to scenes that shortened the play, making it flow more smoothly than movie.
Act One is set in a local restaurant and rotates around three different conversations, where various real estate agents try to manipulate the other person in the conversation into doing something for them. Interestingly, an outgoing actor rotating the scenery performed each change of scene. This set each new conversation as the central focus for the audience. A red fluorescent light was the sole illumination for the stage and this, along with laid-back acting and the jazz music played between scenes, created a very mellow effect to maintain audience interest.
The second act, performed as one long scene, takes place in the office where the real estate agents work. Following one of the discussions from Act One, the office has been burglarized and the police are now interviewing the agents. Furthermore, as outlined in the first act, the salesmen are in direct competition, locking horns as the police are investigating.
The acting in this scene was at times much more over the top than it had been in the first act. Louder than the tranquil atmosphere of Act One, it never reached the level of overacting, but was still a definite change.
The actors successfully created a tense, nasty mood that permeated into the crowd in the sense that everyone had a new understanding of the world of real estate.
Bravo!
