Reviews

• Sheila Criwn

  Jun 26, 2015

  Great acting. Poor storyline. The best thing was the destruction of the set. An endurance wait for something to happen.

• Sam

  Jun 25, 2015

  Amazing cast and the play was even better than I expected, quite dark, but with a lot of subtle humour. I would highly recommend this play.

• John

  Jun 25, 2015

  Wonderful evening, The acting was excellent, and the play thought provoking. Damian Lewis was amazing.

• RB

  Jun 22, 2015

  These are stand-out performances - captivating and powerful, though there are a couple of weak moments where dialogue seems to drag/fall flat. Otherwise, this is a simple, one-room show that's carried by the strength of the characters and the actors portraying them. However, not all seats are equal - to get the most of this show you really need decent seats, closer to the stage, to catch the nuances and to fully appreciate the set. Not sure the lower-priced seats are always the bargain they're made out to be.

• D Ling

  Jun 21, 2015

  Fantastic performance in a great setting. All 3 actors were amazing they pulled you into the story, highly amusing script and we all felt that you could relate to one or more of the character personalities. Highly recommend.

• jennifer dalby

  Jun 18, 2015

  Enjoyable, thoughtful play about hustling and friendship. The performances are strongest in the second half when the characters show more of their real personalities. Tom Sturridge as Bob is totally believable.

• Nancy

  Jun 17, 2015

  I really enjoyed the production. It's a cleverly constructed play and the dialogue is brilliant. The performances are first-class and it was a privilege to see such talent live.

• William Nathan

  Jun 16, 2015

  Whilst the class of the actors shone through, the whole plays subject matter was both boring and very difficult to understand just what message the play was giving.

• Ruth Gilks

  Jun 16, 2015

  Captivated by 3 brilliant actors in their own right. Each character drawing you in to their world and the story behind the individual. Some spicy language, comedic moments and a dark tale that translates across many genres made for stunning performances. I loved it and a standing ovation.... twice... says it all

• Tom La Touche

  Jun 16, 2015

  The plays of David Marmet have always been a delight. This production was no exception . With good acting and a great script , it was a most enjoyable evening.

• Bennett Bonci

  Jun 14, 2015

  Buffalo, besides being a city in Upstate New York, is the common name for the American Bison. David Mamet’s play, and its current production at Wyndham’s theatre, brings the intensity of that beast to the stage in the most subtle ways. American Buffalo is the story of 3 broke losers who turn into petty thieves to reclaim a potentially valuable Buffalo nickel. But their efforts are slowed to a crawl by their own greed and stupidity, leading to a series of Tarantino- or Beckett-esque digressions on the most bizarre subjects. Its funny, and realistic in a surreal way, but at times, while the script spent minutes rehashing the same material, I wanted a faster pace. Thankfully, the second half covered a bit more ground, which made it a stronger act. I like the script, but I love what the team did with it. Take the set. Don’s (John Goodman) modest antique shop is created with the upmost care, filled with items (crap really) and wall papered with the same crap. Even the ceiling of the small room is created by hanging dozens of pieces of lawn furniture, broken bikes, and bits of metal from the rafters above. The care and precision given to garbage speaks to the attention paid to the details of the production overall. That attention is a quality that continues into the performances. Each actor nails the little things that makes the ridiculous characters charming and deep. Though it took me a few minutes to buy into the larger than life characterizations, once I did, the humor of the idiocy put a smile on my face. Damien Lewis’ Teach was my favorite, with his characters built with equal parts 80s panache and New York attitude, sporting a burgundy suit and handlebar mustache. But what made it was his little actions: the way his hands moved constantly as he spoke, and froze when he finished, and the way he constantly kept one hip stylishly cocked to the side. But Tom Sturridge’s Bob, the young drug addict, deserves recognition. Though by far the least well known actor of the 3, his commitment to his role kept him in league with the big names he shared the stage with. You can’t ask for more than 3 inspired performances filling out the work of a great play wright and a beautiful set. So get a ticket. But, like the animal that lends its name to the show, they’re rare these days.

• Theresa George

  Jun 14, 2015

  I found this very flat, I did not feel drawn into the story and felt the ending disappointing.

• Lou

  Jun 14, 2015

  I found the play unengaging. There simply was not enough 'drama' in the story and the emotional journey of the characters. The acting was sensational yet the story left me cold. I found watching the same set for two hours dull, especially when so much of it was lost to view from my balcony seat.

• Jane Nathan

  Jun 13, 2015

  The theatre is lovely and the staff were all great and we had an enjoyable evening but to be honest the play was disappointing, the script dull with unnecessarily bad language and very expensive ticket prices.

• Tony Pockney

  Jun 13, 2015

  I loved this play. It quickly drew the audience in and held attention throughout. Fabulous performances from all three actors, but particularly enjoyed seeing Damian Lewis on stage.

• Andrew Taylor

  Jun 12, 2015

  3 handed play was extremly well acted. Lewis, Goodman & Sturridge were excellent. You will not leave with a smile on your face but you laugh & cry with them. Highly recommended.

• Kayla

  Jun 12, 2015

  Damien Lewis is brilliant in this performance. Because the theatre is small, even standing at he back wall there was a clear and perfect view. It was a favorite of my student groups theatre tour of London.

• Jenny Richards

  Jun 11, 2015

  Having recently experienced Verbatim theatre, you realise that it takes an exceptional writer to write dialogue for actors that sounds realistic. Fortunately, in David Mamet you have such an exceptional talent. Combined with three skilled actors, who work together under intelligent direction you have the makings of an exhilarating piece of theatre. The actors are able to skilfully manipulate the audience to laugh and cry with them, as they dictate, as they tell their story. All the production values were spot on, with careful attention to detail. Even the one set was carefully directed to surprise. It is good to see David Mamet back in the West End and a privilege to see John Goodman on the stage. We had come from Norwich to see the matinee and even with not always being able to see the faces clearly from where we were sitting, it was gratifying that the actors had been directed to look up and connect with the balcony. This is something that so often is lacking in performances that you see these days unless you can afford the very expensive seats. It can be particularly apparent in actors more used to TV and film. If you can get to see it, do try and you will have an inspiring experience and an excellent example of a when a production comes together on all levels and creates true theatre.

• Kayla

  Jun 11, 2015

  Damien Lewis is brilliant in this performance. Because the theatre is small, even standing at he back wall there was a clear and perfect view. It was a favorite of my student groups theatre tour of London.

• Jason

  Jun 10, 2015

  Plausible portrayal of down-and-out 1970's Chicago guys. Damian Lewis was surprising with both his comedic wit and his complete overhaul in appearance to become "Teach". John Goodman was spot-on as "Don", the tormented father figure struggling to rationalize betraying his young disciple. Tom Sturridge superbly played the disheveled yet vulnerable young "Bob", capturing his gritty unkempt demeanor while not losing sight of the fact he is also lost and naive. The play started a little slowly and sometimes failed to completely capture the attention, but built momentum and ended up being a pretty decent production.

• Paul Sherman

  Jun 9, 2015

  'American Buffalo' is an important play which has a lot to say about the human condition, especially with respect to attitudes to money and wealth. The current production at Wyndham's Theatre in Charing Cross Road is a masterpiece of presentation. Damien Lewis as Teach, John Goodman as Donny and Tom Sturridge as Bob milk David Mamet's brilliant script for all it is worth. They bring out the fun, the drama and the pathos. I found it a riveting evening. Thoroughly recommended.

• anon

  Jun 4, 2015

  First part pretty slow,second--so fast but going nowhere.Three good actors but at times too stagey; lots of swearing ,not much depth but overall a play worth seeing.

• Joe

  Jun 2, 2015

  The perfomances are good. The play just felt a little dated.

• Greg

  May 30, 2015

  Dialogue and characters so dismally boring we left halfway through. Amazing actors wasted on a navel gazing uninspired piece of Americana.

• anonymous

  May 29, 2015

  three great actors performing a strange script that didn't really go anywhere

• Kieran Allen

  May 28, 2015

  Acting excellent , Just didn't get the plot. Too intense

• Mary Roberts

  May 28, 2015

  This was a wonderful performance of a difficult play. I had seen the play in Oregon about 20 years ago but my husband had not. He came away trying to figure out what was really going on. The staging, the set and the costuming was perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

• Lol Sanford

  May 28, 2015

  Thoroughly enjoyed this play. Outstanding performances by all three cast members. Brilliantly written and a clever outcome on what seemed at first a whimsical observation of naive, less than honest characters to something potentially more sinister. Damian Lewis was fantastic and a real treat to see the amazing John Goodman on the West End stage.

• A Kohli

  May 27, 2015

  I found the acting of all 3 actors extremely good. Each of their characters were portrayed with brilliant pathos.

• Deborah Katz

  May 27, 2015

  Interesting and intense play Acting well done by all 3 actors Accents nailed Set excellently executed Storyline okay at best

• deborah j

  May 26, 2015

  A tremendously powerful play. Lots of laughs, but also a tight script and fantastic performances. See it I implore you!!

• madeleine baker

  May 24, 2015

  superb acting from all 3 actors,what a treat to see such 2 very seasoned actors and an up and coming very fine actor.

• Adrian Vinson

  May 24, 2015

  Excellent performances, striking set, a good play but with not always entirely intelligible twists.

• Jack

  May 24, 2015

  This intimate play is probably one of the funniest and most heartwarming plays I've ever seen. All three actors give incredible performances, particularly Lewis and Goodman whose on stage chemistry is simply amazing!

• Rich C

  May 23, 2015

  Great performances, very engaging. Play with a limited plot but quality of the acting maintains complete attention. DL superb.

• Duncan

  May 23, 2015

  A very enjoyable evebing wgere the class of John Goodman shines through. Well acted and enjoyable script.

• Al Cacchioli

  May 22, 2015

  Great cast and some unexpected scenes.

• Bored with it

  May 22, 2015

  Let's be blunt - I did not enjoy this at all. Off to a bad start with some heavily contrived American accents (that eased off after a while), a cast that didn't seem to have any on-stage "energy" and a play that may have been novel/exciting when it was written but now seems ho-hum. The F-word is so everyday that hearing it repeatedly on stage is just plain boring. Don't waste your money. At least I hadn't paid top $ for our tickets (150 pounds) but had got off lightly with standing tickets. And yes I do go to the theatre often. Try "A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night" for an absolute raveable nights theatrical entertainment.

• J.Breckenridge

  May 22, 2015

  Great cast who did justice to the intricate dialogue on a superb set. The play is a bit dated in that it doesn't have the same ground-breaking impact as it did in the 70's when this type of drama was new. But an entertaining evening.

• ruth cushing

  May 22, 2015

  I was so disappointed in this show. I took a friend who was visiting from cape town and she too was baffled. What is it actually about? The swear words brought some nervous twittering from the audience but it was not entertaining.

• Laurence Butcher

  May 22, 2015

  The stage presence of Daniel and John is incredible. The fast paced diologue superb and all round great acting between all 3, it was first class. Not the best plot in the world but witty and brilliantly acted!

• Joanna Peters

  May 22, 2015

  What a fantastic cast and great play! Best I've seen in a very long time. Could not take my eyes off al three fine actors and such a shame that the show will not stay on for many more months. It would be a total sell-out every night! The reviews have not done the play justice so far!! Fabulous - loved it!!!

• Janeth Kempston

  May 22, 2015

  The play was very good but marred by the uncomfortable seating.

• Jane Moss

  May 20, 2015

  Excellent show. Very entertaining and funny.

• Alex

  May 19, 2015

  Mamet has had his moments but imo this wasn't one of them. It just isn't dynamic enough to sustain the entire play in one room with just three characters. The second act is much stronger in fairness but still lacked any real moments of interest. Despite the middling material all three actors do a great job, especially Lewis - although he does get the best lines - and the production was interesting enough. Have always been a fan of the Wyndham which added to the occasion.

• Nick Pike

  May 19, 2015

  What a disappointment. Tedious script played well in the first half, spoilt by what can only be described as Damien Lewis' overacting in the second. All very shouty with John Goodman the only saving grace. Only the Guardian review led me to understands the subtlety of the play's message although I wondered which version of the play they saw, referring to a non existent catastrophic end. The only catastrophe I saw was the play itself. Avoid.

• Rosie Morris

  May 18, 2015

  Brilliant play and brilliant acting. I am sure my husband had the same suit and shirt as Damien Lewis! Five stars for me.

• Jane

  May 17, 2015

  Really enjoyed this production . Strong convincing performances from all three actors .

• Jo Hannah

  May 16, 2015

  I thought the acting was superb from all 3 characters. The second act was a real mix of comedy and shocking darkness which stayed with me for a long time afterwards. The set was excellent too.

• Adam

  May 16, 2015

  the theatre was very excited to see these three and the performances are fantastic! Tom Sturridge is really 'out there' and DL is giving a good comedy turn as Teach. JG is as solid as always - Don't miss this one