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?)