Anonymous Caller Convinces David Mamet To Allow Reviews of Mary-Arrchie's AMERICAN BUFFALO

Thirty years ago, Richard Cotovsy's storefront Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company hit the Chicago scene with a double bill of Sam Shepard's Cowboy Mouth and 4-H Club. They've been a mainstay of Chicago theatre ever since, but thanks to neighborhood development and an unrenewed lease, this season is the conpany's swan song.

Cotovsy wanted to go out with the play that inspired his own aesthetic vision, David Mamet's Obie-winning junkshop drama AMERICAN BUFFALO.

Unfortunately, as reported by the Chicago Tribune, getting the performance rights wasn't easy. Samuel French Inc., the licensing agent for the play advised Mary-Arrchie that Chicago was a restricted city for AMERICAN BUFFALO. This is a common practice, where playwrights deny performance rights of prominent works to smaller companies in order to limit competition in case a major tour can be scheduled or a high-profile company wishes to mount a production.

It was concluded that Mary-Arrchie could produce the play, but with limited advertising and no press invitations for critics. If a critic paid for a ticket and wrote a review, the theatre company would be obligated to ask that it be removed.

Not the best of situations for Mary-Arrchie, but, unlike a typical David Mamet play, there's a happy ending.

Apparently, an anonymous benefactor called Mamet to explain the circumstances of the production and convinced the playwright to allow the company to invite the reviewing press.

So who was the mysterious caller? Rumors abound that it was Mamet's fellow Chicago playwright Tracy Letts, author of the Pulitzer-winner AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. In any case, press opening is Friday.

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