Donny owns a pawn shop, Bobby is pretty much his apprentice and Teach is the toxic alpha. They hang out at the pawn shop, play cards and chill. Donny’s taken Bobby under his wing, giving him errands, instruction, some watch and learn. Teach is lean and steaming, angry but chill. He’s not as kind-hearted as Donny, but not a total beast.
When Teach arrives Donny says he sold an Indian Head Nickel to some posh guy for nearly a hundred dollars. They’re stunned there are coins so precious they can net five figures. They’ve discovered he lives close by, and most likely has a cache of others. They plot to burglarize his house, and enlist Fletcher’s help, over the phone. Bobby is kept in the dark. They want to include him, but its past his pay grade.
Playwright David Mamet evokes American values at the very core. An antiquated coin depicting a Native American and a buffalo fetches a huge sum of money because it’s rare. America began with the Indigenous, who subsisted on buffaloes with gratitude and honor. How far have we dropped since then? When the burglary implodes, Teach and Donny turn on Bobby. Teach melts down. He goes on a rampage. Our respect is torn to pieces.
In American Buffalo there is a code of street cred, masculinity, respect between men. Donny is the moral compass, Teach the loose wire, Bobby the student. Each expresses manhood in his own way: Donny’s paternal, Bobby’s deferential and Teach has his dukes up. He cleaves hard to his manhood, sometimes nearly clownish. His soft side at war with his warrior. He’s barely contained.
The Classics Theatre Project’s production of American Buffalo would have us fucking with a black grizzly. A fair amount of humor throughout until distrust and rage ignite. TCPT holds tight to Mamet’s jaundice and imperative. You feel that ferocity lurking in the pit of your stomach. We are in participating in something harrowing, something desperate,something deeply sad. TCTP’s American Buffalo is phenomenal, electrifying, and fearless. An adrenaline shot in your Coca-Cola.
The Classics Theatre Project presents David Mamet’s American Buffalo, May 15th-June 20th, 2026. Stone Cottage (adjacent to Addison Water Tower Theatre) 15650 Addison Rd. Addison, TX 75001. (214) 923-3619. tctpdfw@gmail.com. theclassicstheatreproject.com