At a time when intense, continual interaction between politicians and the press is all too obvious in America, The Kennedy Center’s upcoming production of “Frost/Nixon” offers a view of a different, less combative time, an era when television was just beginning to wield its present power.
Peter Morgan’s play is based on the 1977 televised interviews of ex-President Richard Nixon by the talk-show host David Frost, played by British actor Alan Cox. Veteran actor Stacy Keach stars in the role of Nixon.
“The (Watergate) hearings in some ways were the beginning of reality televsion,” Keach said. “We were all glued to our sets. And then once he resigned and a few years passed, that event (the interviews) sort of refreshed our memories. … It brings that period back into perspective.”
Cox said in the play, Frost is “depicted as a bit of a lightweight who grabs a scoop — interviewing this disgraced president.”
“Frost feels the discussions will give him more international standing. Nixon agrees to the interviews because he believes they will give him a chance to improve his reputation,” he said.
While “Frost/Nixon” is based in historical fact, it’s anything but a history play. Keach said an important theme in the production and this play is how it shows how image plays such a role in a politican’s life, especially Nixon.
“It plays like a thriller and it also has a lot of humor, and it goes by very quickly because there’s no intermission,” Keach said. “As a live theatrical event, I think that’s a good way to experience the Frost-Nixon interview because you’ve got the live image and the televised image simultaneously.”
“It’s a very slick show,” said Cox, “with a funky sound track which locates it dead in the 1970’s. And Morgan found a way to make the tapes dramatically effective. There was a lot of chat and ramble into the originals, which included discussions of United States’ involvement in Vietnam and Cambodia, for instance, before getting to the final segment, which concentrates on Watergate.”
Beyond its classic appeal as a drama between two determined men, only one of whom can win, there are many elements about “Frost/Nixon” that will ring true to today’s politically savvy audiences.
“The idea of the two competing teams is fascinating,” said Cox, “when you think of political advisors and press entourages, the people who pull the strings and dig up the dirt.”
Keach said he was very excited to bring the show to Washington because he thinks the show has obvious parallels between Nixon and all world leaders today – the kind of feeling of entitlement of being above the law.
“There’s a line in the play when Nixon is questioning the legality of whether he was involved in the obstruction of justice because when you’re president you have to do a lot of things that aren’t in the bounds of the law, but for the greater good of the nation,” he said. “Frost says that he can’t believe it when the president does something it means it’s not illegal. The sin of pride is another element that plays into the notion of a tragic hero.”
“Frost/Nixon” plays Tuesday through Nov. 30.
