Synopsis

A Hollywood executive’s plush office, filled with the trappings of power and the scent of ambition.

Bobby Gould, newly promoted Head of Production at a major studio, finds his moral compass spinning when his old friend Charlie Fox brings him a surefire hit movie pitch. As Gould wrestles with the decision to greenlight the cynical, commercially viable project or take a chance on an artistically ambitious but risky novel adaptation, his temporary secretary Karen becomes an unexpected catalyst for soul-searching.

David Mamet’s play is a scathing satire of Hollywood’s moral bankruptcy and the corrosive nature of power. Through rapid-fire dialogue and a trio of deeply flawed characters, Mamet explores themes of loyalty, ambition, and the commodification of art. The play’s three-act structure mirrors the classic Hollywood story arc, building to a climax that forces Gould to choose between his ideals and his career. Mamet’s trademark staccato language and biting wit serve to expose the characters’ true motivations, revealing the emptiness behind their superficial bravado. Speed-the-Plow offers a scathing critique of an industry where artistic integrity is routinely sacrificed on the altar of commercial success.