Quick Chats: Brendan Meyer on American Buffalo

Welcome to our Quick Chats series, where we take a peek backstage and ask questions that are almost completely related to the show. Today, we're chatting with Brendan Meyer, who plays Bobby in American Buffalo by David Mamet. American Buffalo is a gritty and darkly funny play centering on three men and their hopes for better lives. Junk shop owner Don wants dim-witted but good-hearted kid Bobby to steal back a valuable coin that Don mistakenly sold for an inadequate profit. When Don's poker buddy Teach hears about this plan, he wants in-and he wants Bobby out. The men's struggles against their situation and against each other build to a powerful and emotionally taut conclusion. Let's hear from Brendan about this modern American drama. APT: Since American Buffalo is set in a junk shop, is there any piece of merchandise you would like to take home? B: There's a strange horn stage right, I think originally from a bicycle, that I've had my eye on for some time. APT: Which of the characters (either those onstage or those only mentioned) would you most like to get a drink with? B: I'd love to get a drink with Donny and Fletch. Two "stand-up guys". APT: This is the first time Mamet has appeared at APT. What other playwright would you like to make their APT debut? B: I'd be interested to hear how people responded to Sam Shepard as well. It's been great to hear the reaction to Mamet's language and I'd love to hear how people responded to Shepard. I really hope some of his work will hit the APT stage sometime soon. APT: The play talks a lot about coin collectors. Do you collect anything? B: I collect tickets and playbills for plays that I've seen. When I was a kid, I collected baseball cards and comic books that I'm hoping some have value. APT: As an Apprentice Company member, you must be experiencing a lot of new things. What has been most surprising about APT? B: I've been amazed by the number of people driving cross country to see our productions. After we opened, I met people from South Carolina, Oklahoma and Chicago. This company really holds a special place in peoples' hearts. American Buffalo runs through November 6 in the Touchstone Theatre. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit http://americanplayers.org/plays/american-buffalo or call the Box Office at 608-588-2361. Photo: Zane Williams