Revised Evaluation: Poker Game Revival - Three Decades Later: Dealer's Choice
The Poker Gamble: A Raw, Masculine Exploration ★★★☆☆ | Donmar Warehouse
Poker games can spin yarns worthy of movies like Casino Royale or Molly's Game. Then there's life imitating art in real-life games - the hands that haunt, the losses that sting, and the wins that make you think you're invincible. It's no wonder poker struck a chord with playwright Patrick Marber.
I've been a regular cardshark, and specific hands retain a mythical allure: the game where I lost a straight flush to a royal flush, or the time I bluffed a pair of queens with a seven-deuce, hitting a second pair on the river - whoa, Nelly! No wonder poker fueled its share of silver-screen drama.
Marber's 1995 debut play, "Dealer's Choice," now celebrating its 30th anniversary at the Donmar, is a nod to that tale. The play is a gritty, male-dominated six-hander diving deep into compulsions, poisonous relationships, and the boundaries of camaraderie. It's a love letter and a cautionary tale about poker and the world of gambling - a space Marber knew all too well, having immersed himself in Oxford's casino scene during his university days. "A bit like aces, kids. You fall in love with them," ponders one character wistfully.
Set in a London restaurant, the establishment doubles as the scene of a weekly poker game where more cash changes hands than anyone can afford. It's a story of dashed hopes: the longing for recognition by waiter Mugsy; the fiery aspirations of Sweeney, the hotheaded chef; and KP Frankie's ambition to make it as a professional poker player. Yet, in a cruel twist, none of them can escape their flawed natures for long.
The first act is relatively lighthearted, chock-full of the banter common among men that might convince you you're watching a 90s period drama. The charismatic and lovable Mugsy steals the scenes, some lines reminiscent of Marber's hero, Harold Pinter. But the balance isn't always spot-on, with lesser-developed characters paper-thin in comparison.
The second act zeroes in on the high-stakes poker game, the fragile equilibrium toppling when a stranger, Ash, arrives. He knows more than he lets on. The setting looks stunning, with a revolving poker table and dramatic lighting, but the plays out as you might expect - macho outbursts, bitter recriminations, and all.
It's never less than entertaining, and it offers a fascinating look at how the material has aged over the years. However, "Dealer's Choice" struggles to break free of its influences and feels like a promising debut still dancing too close to its idols.
Behind the Scenes: A Closer Look
Patrick Marber's "Dealer's Choice" delves into themes of masculinity, gambling, and the emotional struggles of men ensnared in their own worlds of compulsion and heartbreak. The 1995 play, heavily inspired by playwrights like David Mamet, immerses viewers in a Portrait of male friendships and the delicate balance between competition and camaraderie. The narrative revolves around a group of men who meet for a weekly poker game, revealing the deeper psychological and emotional dynamics at play.
- Masculinity: The play sketches a portrait of male friendships and the ways men interact when their guard is down. The characters exhibit a hardened form of masculinity, seeking to assert dominance through taunts and poker games.
- Gambling and Compulsion: The poker games function as a metaphor for the characters' lives, with their cycles of risk-taking and loss reflecting broader societal issues like financial insecurity and the pursuit of elusive dreams.
- Identity and Disillusionment: Each character symbolizes men struggling to find meaning in their lives, attempting to escape or find validation through gambling. The play highlights how such behaviors can both unite and alienate individuals.
- David Mamet's Influence: Like Mamet's works, "Dealer's Choice" features sharp, incisive dialogue and delves deep into the complexities of male friendships in a competitive environment. Marber's writing style, a fusion of comedy and satire, infuses these interactions with dark humor.
Overall, "Dealer's Choice" is a complex exploration of male identity and the pitfalls of gambling, unfolding against the backdrop of camaraderie and poker.
The play's exploration of male identity and camaraderie, as portrayed through poker games, is a nod to playwrights like David Mamet, reflecting the raw, masculine nature of the games and the compulsions they evoke.
Animashaun, one of the characters, finds himself ensnared in a cycle of risk-taking and loss, mirroring societal issues like financial insecurity and the pursuit of elusive dreams, much like a gambler in a real-life casino-and-gambling establishment.
Despite its connections to its idols, "Dealer's Choice" offers a fascinating look at how male friendships and the world of gambling have evolved since its debut, presenting a contemporary perspective on these themes through the lens of casino-games like poker.
Marber's play is a cautionary tale about the dangers of the compulsion to play poker, showcasing how even the most seemingly invincible players can fall victim to losing hands, much like the mythical hands that haunt real-life poker players who have bootstrapped their way into the game.
