Bobby (Trey McGee, left) and Teach (Michael McFadden, right) contemplate the inflated value of a rare coin in Red Curtain’s production of “American Buffalo,” opening Jan. 18 in Marysville. (Larry T. Lisk)

Bobby (Trey McGee, left) and Teach (Michael McFadden, right) contemplate the inflated value of a rare coin in Red Curtain’s production of “American Buffalo,” opening Jan. 18 in Marysville. (Larry T. Lisk)

Red Curtain’s ‘American Buffalo’ tells a dog-eat-dog tale

David Mamet’s play bristles with profanity as it plumbs the depths of criminal minds.

Fair warning: A four-letter expletive beginning with the letter F will be said quite a lot in “American Buffalo.”

But don’t write off this show because of that. Swear words have a purpose in David Mamet’s 1975 play.

The play, opening Jan. 18 at the Red Curtain Arts Center in Marysville, is about the dog-eat-dog world of small-time crime.

“American Buffalo,” which was adapted into a 1996 film starring Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Franz and Sean Nelson, is meant to be a twist on the American dream.

“People who live outside the legal realm and run afoul with the law are more apt to have a street-language way of speaking,” said William Cole, the Red Curtain production’s director.

In the underbelly of Chicago society in the mid-1970s, three crooks hatch a plan to steal a man’s rare buffalo head nickel. But it becomes a comedy of errors when their get-rich-quick scheme falls apart because of incompetence, and later turns violent when one of the criminals turns on another.

The story takes place in a junk shop. Donny, who owns the second-hand store, has sold a buffalo nickel to a customer for $90, but is now convinced it was worth five times more. He enlists the help of his gofer, Bobby, to keep tabs on the customer’s house and look for an opportunity to steal it back.

Donny’s poker buddy, “Teach,” learns about the plan and suggests he take Bobby’s place, as he’s the more experienced crook. Teach refuses any help and insists he can pull off the robbery on his own.

But things turn sour when Bobby returns with a buffalo nickel, leading Donny and Teach to believe he has gone through with the robbery and plans to rip them off.

Small-time crooks “Teach” (Michael G. McFadden), Bobby (Trey McGee) and Donny (Scott B Randall) plot to steal a rare coin in Red Curtain’s production of “American Buffalo.” (Larry T. Lisk)

Small-time crooks “Teach” (Michael G. McFadden), Bobby (Trey McGee) and Donny (Scott B Randall) plot to steal a rare coin in Red Curtain’s production of “American Buffalo.” (Larry T. Lisk)

“The play is a lot about loyalty,” Cole said. “There’s a lot of lies, truths and, for an audience, you have to untangle the web. It’s compelling theater.”

The cast features Scott Randall as the oafish junk shop owner Donny; Trey McGee as Bobby, a young junkie under Donny’s wing; and Michael McFadden as the violently paranoid braggart “Teach.”

Cole said each character has his own reasons for seeing the buffalo nickel as their ticket out.

Donny is looking to regain his own sense of self-worth after feeling like he’s been conned out of money. Teach is in financial distress and desperate for cash.

Bobby is the only one not interested in the prize coin. His reason for helping? He wants to gain acceptance and appreciation from Donny, who he sees as his mentor.

But whatever these three crooks do, they’ll always be on the bottom rung of the social ladder, Cole said.

“I see the play as taking place in a little corner of Purgatory,” Cole said. “I’ve designed the set so you descend down into the shop. You’re sitting in Purgatory, watching these people struggle to find redemption.”

Mamet’s trick to writing lifelike scripts, such as this one for “American Buffalo,” was to sit in public places and absorb the conversations happening around him.

“Mamet is famous for being a human tape recorder and listening carefully to the way people talked, and taking their vernacular, and using it to express his ideas,” said Cole, a longtime Mamet fan.

Evan Thompson: 425-339-3427, ethompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @ByEvanThompson.

If you go

Red Curtain’s “American Buffalo” is staged Jan. 18 through Feb. 3 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave., Suite J, Marysville. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students, seniors and military. Call 360-322-7402. More at www.redcurtainfoundation.org.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

Rodney Ho / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Tribune News Service
The Barenaked Ladies play Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville on Friday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.