Speed-the-Plow

Speed-the-Plow is one of Mamet's business plays, this one exploring the relationship between business and art. Newly-promoted studio executive Bobby Gould and his lower-ranked associate Charlie Fox appear to have found their ticket to glory: a buddy prison movie starring A-list actor Doug Brown. They just need to convince the studio boss and get a firm deal in place before the next morning, or Doug is out. But when Bobby’s temp secretary, Karen, manages to seduce him into adapting a niche novel instead, he realizes a harsh truth: most people will only care about him for his power. Speed-the-Plow is a satire of Hollywood and studio consumerism, rich with Mamet’s trademark language and machismo energy. The title comes from the phrase “God speed the plow”, about the value of work.