Throwback Thursday to Damian Lewis in American Buffalo!

teach15

A recent article in Evening Standard  mentioning a certain someone as one of the most influential people in London Theater in 2015 first inspired me to do a throwback to one of the best stage performance I have ever seen in my life: Damian Lewis in American Buffalo!

And then I found a second inspiration at New Yorker Festival: I was lucky enough to ask the last question in the Q&A following the conversation New Yorker staff writer Lauren Collins had with Damian Lewis at New Yorker Festival. In fact, when it was my turn to ask, Collins said we were out of time. I don’t know what kind of a sad look I gave to her but she said: “OK, one more…” Continue reading “Throwback Thursday to Damian Lewis in American Buffalo!”

A Look Back to 10 weeks of American Buffalo with Damian Lewis, Part I

source: Daily Mail
source: Daily Mail

Damian Lewis has said good-bye to American Buffalo in a tweet on Saturday just before his last two performances:

source: @lewis_damian twitter
source: @lewis_damian twitter

Sad to say good-bye indeed… 10 weeks were gone with the wind and American Buffalo is no more. It was super exciting to have Damian Lewis back on stage after six years and I sincerely hope — for selfish reasons — that he will not take such a long break from stage ever again! And, please, Damian, come to the Great White Way next time and make your American fans happy, too 🙂 Continue reading “A Look Back to 10 weeks of American Buffalo with Damian Lewis, Part I”

A Night at the Theater with Damian Lewis: American Buffalo, Act II

“We all live like the cavemen.” – Walter "Teach" Cole
source: boradwayworld.com
source: broadwayworld.com

Advance Warning: A sign at the entrance of Wyndham’s theatre warns the audience about explicit language in American Buffalo. I would love to imitate that and warn you all, for the sake of giving a detailed review of the play, I choose to use some of that explicit language in my blog post. So, please read at your own risk – thank you!

In case you missed the first part of my review, and want to take a look, here it is.

American Buffalo, as it brings to life a day in the lives of three no-hopers that are dying to have a shot at their slice of the American Dream, addresses the themes of friendship, loyalty and business. The play, in particular, examines how the new corporate culture penetrates into daily lives and brings about unbearable cost to people through meddling with the core “values” they have held for the longest time. One can lie, break business deals, and simply do whatever it takes to get his own way in the new world, and there is no place for trust. Teach, coming from outside, symbolizes these “new values” in a way. He “teaches” Don how the new world works: “All I mean, a guy can be too loyal, Don. Don’t be dense on this. What are we saying here? Business.” Continue reading “A Night at the Theater with Damian Lewis: American Buffalo, Act II”

A Night at the Theater with Damian Lewis: American Buffalo, Act I

“All that I’m saying, don’t confuse business with pleasure.” 
– Walter “Teach” Cole
source: broadwayworld.com
source: broadwayworld.com

Advance Warning: A sign at the entrance of Wyndham’s theatre warns the audience about explicit language in American Buffalo. I would love to imitate that and warn you all, for the sake of giving a detailed review of the play, I choose to use some of that explicit language in my blog post. So, please read at your own risk – thank you!

What would you do if you had a conference in Paris, and your most favorite actor is doing a play in London, and you have never seen him on stage before that you are dying to do so, and of course, London is only a two and a half hour train ride from Paris? Yeah, you would do what I did and book tickets for… American Buffalo!

Hurrah!

So… I was extremely lucky to see American Buffalo last week, a pure acting feast provided by the ridiculously talented trio of Damian Lewis, John Goodman and Tom Sturridge.

I know that only a limited number of fans have the opportunity to see the play, so I will try my best here to give you all a detailed account of the play highlighting the fantastic performance of Damian Lewis as Walter “Teach” Cole. Continue reading “A Night at the Theater with Damian Lewis: American Buffalo, Act I”

Damian Lewis Hits the Mark as Teach in American Buffalo

americanbuffalobooknow

Damian Lewis has made a wonderful comeback to stage in David Mamet’s modern American classic American Buffalo. He is headlining the play as Walter “Teach” Cole and stars along the great John Goodman as Don Dubrow and the young rising star Tom Sturridge as Bobby. Daniel Evans, who Damian trained with at Guildhall School of Music and Drama is directing the play. The previews started on April 16, and the play has just had its Press Night -or Opening Night as we say for Broadway – tonight! The play will have a strictly limited run until June 27. Continue reading “Damian Lewis Hits the Mark as Teach in American Buffalo”