ARTicles vol. 7 i. 4: Short Works, Long Histories

David Mamet enjoyed longtime friendships and collaborations with both Harold Pinter and Shel Silverstein. His most interesting collaboration with Pinter was on the film version of Catastrophe, a play by Samuel Beckett—a writer whom both acknowledge as an important influence on their work. In the film of Catastrophe, Mamet directed Pinter in the leading role of the Director while Mamet’s wife, the Scottish actress Rebecca Pidgeon, played the role of the Assistant. This film also marked the last on-screen appearance of the legendary English actor Sir John Gielgud, who appeared in the role of the Protagonist. In another collaboration, Pinter directed the British premiere of Mamet’s play Oleanna, which had its world premiere at the A.R.T.

Mamet’s two best-known collaborations with Silverstein are the screenplay for the film Things Change (which Mamet also directed) and a successful off-Broadway evening of one acts entitled “Oh Hell” which included Mamet’s play Bobby Gould in Hell and Silverstein’s The Devil and Billy Markham, produced at Lincoln Center. When Mamet, his longtime collaborating actor William H. Macy, and I founded the Atlantic Theater Company, we chose Silverstein’s short plays as the best vehicle for the company’s debut.

Mamet, Pinter, and Silverstein all agree on the importance of the short form play in developing both their craft and their discipline as writers; they have each acknowledged that it is extremely important in the life of the writer to always have something to work on, especially when a larger project might require some distance.

“Seriously Funny” presents a selection of comedic short works from these three great playwrights.

Scott Zigler is the Director of the A.R.T./MXAT Institute for Advanced Theatre Training.