LITTLE ROCK — Watergate was a place, a time and a crime that marked the beginning, for many Americans, of their season of discontent with their government and politicians.
And Peter Morgan’s Frost/ Nixon drama, which opened Friday night at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock, fills in some of the colorful details that went on behind the scenes after President Richard Nixon had relinquished his power and gone off into exile in sunny California.
British journalist David Frost, ably played by Brad Heberlee, goes up against an almost sympathetic Nixon (Keith Langsdale) in what some might compare to a boxing match or a bullfighter in the ring, up against his massive opponent. Heberlee sounds as convincingly British as some English singers manage to sound American, and Langsdale, while neitherlooking nor sounding like Nixon, still captures much of the darkness and ego of the only president to ever resign.
Gilbert McCauley keeps the action flowing smoothly, as the 10-person cast moves in and out of Mike Nichols’ minimalist set, which features lots of moveable partitions, shadows and a pair of chairs for Frost and Nixon. Act I focuses on the negotiations and preparations before the two men begin their actual interview sessions in Act II.
While Frost and Nixon get the main attention, the play could almost be renamed Frost/Nixon/Reston/Brennan, as there’s just as much input from Frost adviser Jim Reston, a passionate Nixon foe played by Mark Irish, and Jack Brennan, an equally passionate Nixon aide, played by David Sitler. Irish and Sitler occasionally turn and address the audience in narrator roles, in addition to their dramatic duties.
Jason O’Connell as Bob Zelnick, another person on the Frost team, has some hilarious moments, especially when he plays Nixon during Frost’s preparation for the interview.
The play has enough humor to keep anyone involved, even those too young to have been swept up in the actual Watergate drama. Those who go should get there early to enjoy the special music of the era before curtain time.
Performances continue through May 9, at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Tickets range from $20-$40. More information is available by calling (501) 378-0405 or (866) 684-3737 or visiting the website therep.org.
Arkansas, Pages 28 on 04/25/2010