DAVID MAMET — THE SHAWL / PRAIRIE DU CHIEN

A snake oil salesman

David Mamet is preoccupied with scammers. Conmen. Fly-by-night snake oil salesmen. He elevates these archetypes, they’re real characters in his hands. Sometimes he puts them in their historical heyday (let’s say 1880 - 1940) and other times drops them into contemporary contexts. It all works because — I strongly contend — America loved, loves and will continue to love a scam. Reading these scammy plays got me in a questioning kind of mood. Is the snake oil salesman a distinctly American archetype? If so, what paved the way for his success in this country? Why scammers, why America? I put these questions to my dad, R, and K; got some answers, got some perspectives. I’m not sure where I shake out on the whole thing, but I am convinced the archetype persists. There are some Americans who will not feel they have succeeded unless they part fools from their money. From what depths originates this dark need? 

Ready July 2022.