American Buffalo (Paperback)

by David Mamet (Author)
Key Phrases: goddamn right, Where's Fletcher

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
"The finest American playwright of his generation" (Sunday Times) A junk shop. Three small-time crooks plot to carry out the midnight robbery of a coin collection. In the hours leading up to the heist, friendship becomes the victim in a conflict between loyalty and business."This play is a parable about the US - not in the journalistic way but quietly, stealthily, with all the rich interior organisation of a true work of art" (Observer) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 106 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press (January 11, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802150578
• ISBN-13: 978-0802150578
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,337 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the Weak, July 25, 2004

By	M. Leitch - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's unfortunate that the first Amazon review of Mamet's brilliant work is by Mr. C.B.Liddell, a pompous, pontificating Brit who doesn't understand the play. I'm not sticking up for Mamet: his works are very hit and miss, and even the hits are an acquired taste (like Monty Python), I'm just standing up for a damn good play.

One of the problems with American Buffalo is that its language and setting (low-income Chicago in the 70's) are unfamiliar and difficult to appreciate for many people, but it's loved by many actors and writers in the same way that musicians appreciate "musician's music." Also, like Glengary Glen Ross, it can be emotionally violent and offensive for some people.

Still, a great work of art, in my humble opinion. Don't pass up the chance to see it performed by talented actors who know and love the play!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a blank, startling, gripping work..., June 12, 2000

By	Caroline (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

I am an actress, playwright, and constant theatergoer, so I'd like to think I know when a play is good...and believe me, this play is excellent. It is stark, realistic, and yet has a fantastic quality all its own. The story follows three small time crooks: Donny, the calm vet, Teach, daring and aching for adventure, and Bobby, the slow, amiable kid. Their plot to steal a valuable coin collection is the center of the play, but so much more goes into it. Honor amoung thieves, the busted American dream, and masculinity are at the core of this piece, and Mamet, with his honest style, pulls off what could very easily be a dumb crook spoof. It's a little hard to read at first, as all Mamet is, but if you envision the story, you'll get through it. I recently saw the play in New York at mamet's Atlantic company with Philip Baker Hall, William H. Macy, and Mark Webber, and it was truly great. I suggest owning the play and getting to a local performance asap.

5.0 out of 5 stars Characters not plot, February 20, 2009

By	Russ Wigglesworth (Petaluma, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have always enjoyed this play. I saw it in NYC in its first run on Broadway, then saw a production at the Berkeley Rep some years later. I watched the filmed version recently. This is (as are many of DM's works) a character study. The plot is just a vehicle to give the characters something to talk about. There are no great truths revealed but there are tremendous depths to the characters. This is an actor's play, full of great dialog exchanges. For the non-theatrical person it plays better than it reads.