With its intriguing new cast, David Mamet's  Race,  at the Ethel Barrymore Theater, remains a riveting probe of ethics and the legal system. Richard Thomas alone continues from the original cast, portraying the client who seeks a new legal team to extricate him from a charge of raping a young African-American woman. His portrayal of the wealthy socialite, Charles Strickland, exposes an overconfident, controlled aggressive who chooses Lawson and Brown, hoping that this firm with one white and two black attorneys can turn the upcoming trial to his advantage.

The partners, Jack Lawson and Henry Brown, spend considerable time arguing if they should even take the case. It is Susan, an African-American and the youngest and newest member of the firm, who forces their decision. Lawson refers to the mechanism of coming to a decision as "entertainment". In Mametspeak, he explains, "The jury has a story. In their head. About what happened in that room. We have to drive that story out of their heads." The manipulation, while provocative and often amusing, is also grounded in morality and law.

Eddie Izzard and Dennis Haysbert bring their own interpretations to Lawson and Brown. Izzard is best known as a British stand-up comic with a stream-of-consciousness monologue that ricochets from subject to subject. However, he is also appreciated as an actor (example: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg ). His portrayal of Lawson takes on the tough stance of a James Cagney thug who is nevertheless vulnerable to the turn of events and the issues of the case.

Dennis Haysbert, a towering African-American with a rich imposing voice, plays Henry Brown. He is seen often on television as spokesperson for Allstate Insurance and appeared on TV's  24  as President David Palmer. Being Haysbert's Broadway debut may account for his tentative hold on the characterization of Brown at the perfomance I attended. His stage movements were often clumsy and Mamet's precise, complex cadence presented obvious challenges for Haysbert and to a lesser extent, Izzard. Yet despite his bouts of awkwardness, Haysbert's intimidating presence as the lawyer and his resonant voice offer a threatening danger to the defendant and also to his legal colleagues. It is likely that as the run continues, the talents of Haysbert and Izzard will lock into the mechanics of the play.

Afton C. Williamson, understudy for Kerry Washington, the original Susan, takes the role for herself and brings to it new authority and intelligence. Her months of standing ready to fill in works to her advantage and she scores as the watchful, unexpectedly calculating newest member of the firm.

Through fresh interpretations,  Race  remains electrifying as a smart, brisk challenge of guilt, innocence, and the social system represented in the audience.

Except for the cast and schedule change below, the production notes remain as listed at the end of Elyse Sommer's original review below.
Current Cast: Eddie Izzard (Jack Lawson), Dennis Haysbert (Henry Brown), Afton C. Williamson (Susan), Richard Thomas (Charles Strickland)
Schedule: Tuesday at 7 pm, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2 pm, Sunday at 3 pm