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Village Theatre Guild tackles David Mamet's risky 'Glengarry Glen Ross'

"Glengarry Glen Ross" by David Mamet is a Pulitzer-winning play which perfectly depicts the author's skill in writing realistic, true-sounding dialogue, the voice of the people of the streets; where "should of" replaces "should have."

The salesmen's wit is shown by lines like, "Whoever picked up a check I was flush?"

And effective use of repetition, exemplified by the office manager asking/yelling at a salesman to "Go to lunch! Will you go to lunch?" four times in a row, no break, to his face until the guy leaves.

Within all the screaming, pushing, verbal gymnastics and a plethora of F-bombs, what remains are characters who are real, somewhat pathetic, and ultimately fascinating and hilarious.

Village Theatre Guild's production opens Friday, March 17, and runs weekends through April 8 at the theater located near the northwest corner of Park Boulevard and Butterfield Road in Glen Ellyn.

Please note: this play contains profanity, racist, and misogynist language.

James Lingk (Rich Kropp, left) and Richard Roma (Billy Hyland) clink glasses in Village Theatre Guild's production of "Glengarry Glen Ross." The production opens Friday, March 17. Courtesy of David Dowell

The 1984 script shows parts of two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts - from lies and flattery to bribery, threats, intimidation and burglary - to sell real estate to unwitting prospective buyers. It is based on Mamet's experience having previously worked in a similar office.

The title comes from two real estate developments mentioned in the play. Glengarry Highlands is the prime real estate everyone is attempting to sell now; Glen Ross Farms is mentioned by several characters as having been very lucrative for those selling it several years ago.

The power of Mamet's words is best realized by the plans of a New York Theatre to stage three one-act plays commissioned by three well-known writers: Woody Allen, Elaine May and Mamet. Allen and May sat through rehearsals, changing portions of their scripts as they interacted with the director and actors. Mamet never showed.

When called he said, "Speak the lines as written, word for word. I don't need to see anything if you do that." Click.

There's a master class that discusses how "Glengarry Glen Ross" is actually written in iambic pentameter, or 10 beats per "line."

Reading the script or better, speaking and listening to it, sounds as if it could be.

Dave Moss (Guy Sullivan, right) and George Aaronow (René Ruelas) lament their situations in Village Theatre Guild's production of David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross." Courtesy of David Dowell

Come to the Village Theatre Guild production and see what you think.

The talented and diverse cast features Joe Gomez of Palos Park, Guy Sullivan of Roselle, René Ruelas of Schiller Park, Billy Hyland of Wheaton, Rich Kropp of Roselle, Derek L. Cook of Wheaton, and Gerry Gallagher of Wheaton. The production is directed by Lisa S. Dolnics and produced by Dave Dolnics.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, with an additional matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8. Tickets are $22.

For more information or to order tickets, visit www.villagetheatreguild.org or contact the box office at (630) 469-8230.

“Glengarry Glen Ross”

Who: Village Theatre Guild’s production of David Mamet Pulitzer Prize-winning play

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, with an additional matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8

Where: Village Theatre Guild at northwest corner of Park Boulevard and Butterfield Road in Glen Ellyn

Cost: $22

For tickets:

www.villagetheatreguild.org or contact the box office at (630) 469-8230.Note: This play contains profanity, racist, and misogynist language

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