A New Play Written & Directed by David Mamet
For those of us who know John Malkovich by his films, we know what to expect. He’s known for playing characters that are maniacal, psychotic, insane, and just downright evil. We know this and yet we still go back to him, each and every time. Moreover, when we know John is doing a movie, we expect him to be good. Most of us, however, have never seen him onstage. That, is a travesty. With him and David Mamet teaming up for a new production at the Garrick Theatre, the only reasonable question ask oneself is, “what am I waiting for?” Bitter Wheat made its debut in London, and for those of us who know David Mamet, all that can be said is that he’s never been in truer form.
Bitter Wheat story finds us beginning in the office of Barney Fein (played by Malkovich), a very powerful film producer with a lot of money and an excessive amount of reach.
Penning a script about current events can be taxing. It must be done delicately to avoid putting people too close in comparison. You risk lawsuits, bad publicity, and perhaps getting information incorrect. That last part can come with a number of consequences. This shouldn’t be the case for Mamet’s Bitter Wheat however. His story finds us beginning in the office of Barney Fein (played by Malkovich), a very powerful film producer with a lot of money and an excessive amount of reach. Where this is going isn’t hard to deduce, and with sexual harassment being the hot topic of conversations today, as well as how men in any industry abuse their power the way that Fein does, predictability is an understatement. All that aside, Mamet’s take of the current climate gives us insight into the status of Fein when he’s at his most powerful and the aftermath that follows his decision to sexually harass a hopeful actress that intended to work with him. The plot may sound simple, but that’s because it is. The simplest way of putting this is: Fein is a terrible human being. He’s rude, egocentric, self-centred, misogynistic, sexist, and likely any other buzzword of today that can be thought of. Though, this is the way it was written, and this is how Malkovich plays him. The more interesting part of this though, is that he’s also somehow likeable. In fact, he’s almost too likeable. Even though there’s probably zero moments where any reasonable human being could possibly sympathize with him, he’s still exceptionally enjoyable to watch and listen to.
Of the rest of the characters, Sondra (played by Doon Mackichan) and Yung Kim Li (played by Ioanna Kimbook) get the most stage time, and the time is well used. Sondra, who is Fein’s secretary/personal assistant and right hand woman, is the anchor of it all. She knows Fein, who he is, how he is, and she’s probably the one and only person who puts up with him and his behaviour, maybe even going as far as ‘accepting’ him for what he is. She keeps the audience laughing but also questioning, as we’re left to wonder how complicit she may actually be in his behaviour. The strength and pride of the story lies in that of Yung Kim Li, a British-Korean actress who has the unfortunate displeasure of being preyed upon by the powerful mogul, yet the courage and tenacity to take him on and arguably, bring him down. With Bitter Wheat being Ioanna Kimbook’s West End debut, and that of Mamet’s new character, it’s safe to say her version of Yung Kim Li will be remembered and revered for her commendable performance.
Sexual harassment is obviously a terrible thing, and though it can be subjective at times, it’s clear to distinguish that trying to take off a potential co-worker’s clothes without their permission and/or asking them to watch you shower unwantedly, is a far cry from a suggestive comment or maybe even a wink. If this is what David Mamet was going for, then he did not miss the mark. It’s no secret that society is at a turning point when it comes to how workplace harassment and abuses of power are dealt with. And though this version of events is presented by Mamet and Malkovich in a way that everyone can laugh at, it still sheds light on something that is very important if we’re intent on times changing. A lesson can be learned from anything, and unquestionably from this play.
Production has since closed
