I went because I heard the acting was amazing, and it was. The entire play was amaziung. But the point of the play was lost on the audience - to the point of distraction.
First, it is hard to believe it has been 30 years since the interviews in which Nixon finally admitted he broke the law. And the play showed the verbal / mental parry between David frost and Richard Nixon. One that Nixon ultimately lost, even though he scored more points. But you only remember the points he lost, the admission and the apology.
But, people in the theatre saw so much of the play as simply theatre, as empty words and star performances. Okay, the performances were great and the words interesting – but the words – the play was not NOT empty, the words have meaning.
When Richard Nixon is quoted as saying in the interviews “I didn’t break the law. The President has to watch out for the country and anything he does IS the law.” The proper response is not to laugh. It is not a laugh line. It is a tragedy that is being repeated. Only now we look at it with acceptance. Only looking back can you remember how shocking it once was that someone claimed that as the truth.
In the play (and in the real interviews) Nixon regrets that Watergate has convinced a generation of young people that politics is corrupt. He blames the media, but the fault lies with him. In the play, there is a pause at that line, as the play resets and the writer allows us a moment to reflect on the outcome. I think it is meant to let the line sink in. Because, let’s face it, Nixon did convince a generation that politics is a corrupt game. And, each generation has taught their children that until now it is accepted. Not only accepted, but EXPECTED… but at the pause there was only the steady throat clearing and seat squirming that screamed impatience.
The audience was like cud-chewing cows: waiting for the next hay bale to be thrown over the fence. They were there to watch the performances of Frank Langella and Micheal Sheen. Well then listen to what they say! It isn’t just an impression of Nixon and David Frost, you nincompoops. It is a play with a theme and a purpose and argh!!!!
I love a good cud-chewer as much as they next boy. I loved Legally Blonde. But sometimes you go to the theatre to think. And even rarer is the play that rises to meet your expectations. The Vertical Hour over preached and hammered points relentlessly and painfully. Here was a play that begged to be listened to and understood.
It was not and it actually made for a sad night of theatre.