About the Play

China Doll is a full-length dark comedy by David Mamet. This two-hander from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Glengarry Glen Ross follows a billionaire named Mickey Ross, who has just bought a jet plane for his young fiancée as he prepares to go into semi-retirement. As he's about to leave the office, he takes one last phone call that changes everything....

China Doll revolves around a wealthy businessman about to retire and marry a younger woman when his plans are shaken by a phone call. Mickey Ross intends to go into semi-retirement and enjoy himself. He has just bought a new jet as a wedding present for his young fiancée, a non-US citizen. En route from Switzerland to the US, the plane has been diverted by authorities to Toronto. Mickey is in the process of leaving his office, and is giving last minute instructions to his young assistant. He takes one last phone call that could shake things up. The unexpected landing of the plane has prompted an investigation into the Mickey's affairs based on his tax payment history. His anger grows when he learns of the difficulty of reuniting, in Toronto, with his beautiful young girlfriend. As his assistant tries to help him put things back together, secrets are revealed, and it is discovered Mickey is a powerful political insider who's been evading tax law. The investigation deepens and his future is even more at risk. The characters are Mickey Ross, a billionaire; Carson, the assistant, and a telephone.

China Doll premiered in 2015 at the Schoenfeld Theater on Broadway in New York City.

Cast: 2 male

What people say:

"David Mamet has written a devastating portrait of a David Koch, Sheldon Adelson-style tycoon... The carefully parsed-out details make for a riveting second act. Much of the language is sublime and there are great one liners along the way." — The Wrap

"The finest American author of his generation." — Sunday Mail

About the Playwright:

David Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter as well as a director, novelist, poet, and essayist. He has written the screenplays for more than twenty films, including the Oscar-nominated The Verdict. His more than twenty plays include the Pulitzer Prizewinning Glengarry Glen Ross. His other awards include a Tony Award, an Academy Award, two OBIE Awards, two NYDCC Awards, and Outer Circle, Society of West End Theatre, and Dramatists Guild Hall-Warriner Awards.