Mamet's 'The Anarchist' to close on Broadway

It's a disappointment when any play poses a closing notice shortly after opening, but particularly so when the playwright is a Pulitzer Prize-winning icon, and the stars are two famous and celebrated actresses.

Such is the case with David Mamet's The Anarchist, which opened Sunday, with Patti LuPone and Debra Winger cast in its two roles. It will close Dec. 16, according to an announcement posted Tuesday night.

By then the 70-minute drama -- which follows the tense exchange between a woman seeking her freedom after serving 35 years for a politically charged crime and the prison official charged with evaluating her progress -- will have played 23 previews and 17 performances.

Anarchist earned mostly mixed-to-negative reviews, though there were positive comments, particularly for LuPone's performance.