On Being Too Close to Monstrousness

“You must understand that [David Mamet’s] reaction to being surrounded by easy privilege and, frankly, decadence is simply a form of disgust. But it’s overpopulated him, this disgust, and spilled out like an infection into a worldview. Not to get all Freud on his ass, but I think his outlook would be different if his circumstances, i.e., where he lives, were different. There is something about Hollywood liberalism that — even though it is the easiest target in the world — is so stomach-turning in its smugness. It’s no different than his reaction was once to capitalism run amok. I think disgust is disgust.”
 — Awl pal Jon Robin Baitz talks about the dangers of the west coast. Wouldn’t you like to go see something good on Broadway? His new play, “Other Desert Cities,” is a hit, baby. And it’s his birthday today, so go buy a ticket. (I mean, Stockard Channing, hello?)