London Theatre Review: Bitter Wheat at the Garrick Theatre

The result is a monstrous reality, delivered by the exciting pairing of [**John Malkovich**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/spotlight-on-john-malkovich-star-of-david-mamets-bitter-wheat-at-the-garrick-theatre) and **David Mamet**, which hits the West End with a heavy dose of horror and comedy. This is theatre that also carries the thrum of modern debate, exploring the sociopathy of those Titan-esque tycoons whose harassment has long been the stuff of rumour in high places. The Emmy-nominated John Malkovich *(Burn After Reading, Death of a Salesman) *makes his return to the stage as Barney Fein after 33 years away. Fattened-up and on gut-wrenching form, he throws himself into fast-paced monologues, sickening details (the use of a Viagra-timer) and tense dialogue. In the opening scene Fein berates a screenwriter, saying: “you defraud me with your terrible writing” - this is the first gunshot in a long barage, a series of semantic battles, unfolding across a dark dreamscape floored with green marble. Slowly we watch this looming “evil man” bitterly defend his ego, coddling his public philanthropy, whilst churning authentic ideas into sentimental mush to force-feed to the masses. We see a portrait of the narcissist and Darwinist, who states: “we are all animals” and hunts his prey with a blunt spear of cultural misappropriation, enforcing oriental customs on Cambridge-educated actress Yung Kim Li, despite her insistence that she is, in fact: “from Kent”. Make no mistake, this is a grotesque and sickeningly convincing portrait of the patriarchy. And yet relief can be found in Fein’s downfall, as he flees a cresting wave of indictments, bundled into the momentum of the #metoo movement – the same flurry of allegations that wrenched the Harveys of the world out of high-rise Hollywood. All the while the fallout of Fein’s lechery is managed by his tight-lipped but formidable PA, Sondra, played with poise and restraint by **Doon Mackichan**. Finally, *Bitter Wheat* mutates into the last song of a soulless breed, punctuated by Fein’s final pathetic epitaph – how will you know I’m rehabilitated: “I’ll have lost weight”. The powerful and brilliantly performed *Bitter Wheat* is playing for a 4-month run from June to 14 September 2019 at the [**Garrick Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/32/garrick-theatre.aspx). * * * ### **David Mamet**’s *Bitter Wheat* starring **John Malkovich** tickets on sale now. *Bitter Wheat* is playing at the [**West End's Garrick Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/32/garrick-theatre.aspx) until 14 September. Don’t miss your chance to experience **John Malkovich**’s triumphant return to theatre after 33 years. Book now at London Theatre Direct, with tickets available from £30. 🎫 [**Purchase your *Bitter Wheat* tickets here**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3996/bitter-wheat-tickets.aspx).