Speed-the-Plow: Jeremy Piven has abruptly departed the production for health reasons

Variety reports that Jeremy Piven has cut short his Broadway debut. The actor has abruptly withdrawn from the Broadway revival of David Mamet's Speed-The-Plow, for health reasons.

According to the report Piven informed the producers that he has been feeling ill due to a high mercury count and he has decided to withdraw from the production, having already missed the 16 Dec evening performance, and 17 Dec matinee.

Mamet, who seems unconvinced by Piven's 'high mercury count' told Variety ,�I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury,� Mamet said. �So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.�

Mamet also said the show would continue without Piven, �The good news is that some really great actors will be helping out and stepping in, which to me is a sign of great heroism and friendship.� There has so far been no announcement as to who may step into the role.

Understudy Jordan Lage will step ito the breach until a new actor has been cast for the role of 'Bobby Gould.'

Directed by Neil Pepe, Speed-The-Plow also features Elisabeth Moss in her Broadway debut as 'Karen,' the temporary secretary to executive producer 'Bobby Gould' and three-time Tony-nominee Ra�l Esparza as film production exec 'Charlie Fox.'

Speed-The-Plow is Mamet�s scathing portrait of the film industry and the people who are willing to sell their souls for sex, fame and fortune. The play begins with Fox coming to his long-time friend Gould after he unexpectedly gets the twenty-four-hour option to a prison movie. Their 20-year friendship undergoes a test of loyalty when Karen, the na�ve-seeming temporary secretary comes between the project with an agenda of her own.

The play opened at the Ethal Barrymore Theatre on 23 Oct 2008, following previews from 3 Oct, where it is schduled to play a limited engagement through to 22 Feb 2009.

The show opened to mostly excellent reviews: "Through the simple devices of vibrant, perfectly chosen words delivered vibrantly, this production takes on helium that lifts it and its audience into the ether." (NY Times); "Neil Pepe's fine-tuned revival makes for an entertaining ride." (NY Daily News); "The beautifully played revival ... establishes the play as a modern classic." (NY Post); "Exciting and deadly game of three-handed poker." (Back Stage); "Cannily cast revival, proves more timely and sharp than ever." (Hollywood Reporter); "The comedy is pithy, smart and performed with prickly energy." (Variety).

Speed-The-Plow was first produced on Broadway in 1988 at the Royale Theatre (now called Bernard B. Jacobs,) directed by Gregory Mosher and starred Madonna as 'Karen', Joe Mantegna as 'Bobby Gould' and Ron Silver as 'Charlie Fox'. The play was nominated for Tony's for Best Play and Best director, and Ron Silver won a Tony Award for Best Best Actor in Play.

'American Buffalo' was the first of Mamet's plays to be performed on Broadway. The playwright's other Broadway credits include: 'The Water Engine / Mr. Happiness' (1978), 'Glengarry Glen Ross' (1984, revival 2005), 'Speed-the-Plow' (1988) and 'The Old Neighborhood' (1997), 'November' (2008) and 'American Buffalo' (2008).