Frost/Nixon
April 20, 2009 6:24 pm
20 days left.
Frost/Nixon is playing at Portland Center Stage until May 10th.
Frost/Nixon, by Peter Morgan, is the story of the television interviews between talk show host David Frost and recently-resigned President Richard Nixon. You probably know it because it was made into a movie last year (I haven’t seen the movie, so I can’t comment on how it differs from the play, although I’m guessing the answer is “significantly”). Basically, David Frost is a lightweight sort-of journalist who wants to prop up his career by getting Nixon to admit his guilt re: Watergate, while Nixon is hoping to rehabilitate his image and make some quick money by appearing on television.
The source material here is excellent stuff for drama. You’ve got two larger-than-life personalities butting heads in a high-stakes battle that allows the playwright to explore the Nixon presidency, television journalism and the nature of scandal.
The problem is that Morgan burdens us with an incredible amount of completely unnecessary narration. The play is told from the point of view of one member of Frost’s support team, whose constant addresses to the audience muddle the excitement of the show. Half of what he says to us we do not need to know, and the other half was either already obvious or could have been made clear by showing, rather than telling. It’s lazy script writing.
But when the play really zeroes in on the story and focuses on its two main characters, it’s edge-of-your-seat material. Every scene in the television studio sparkles. Nixon is especially well-written, and Bill Christ brings him to life with confidence and a surprisingly strong sense of comedic delivery.
Of course, this is PCS, so the production values are high. The set consists of constantly moving panels (used to differentiate the many locations) and a rear wall onto which live video feeds are projected. It’s impressive, if a bit showy.
So, in short, a mixed bag, but in the end probably worth seeing if you can afford it.
Portland Center Stage
128 NW Eleventh Avenue
Until May 10
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