I mention this because this afternoon we went down to the Ahmanson Theatre to see the Donmar Warehouse production of “Frost/Nixon”, written by Peter Morgan. This was not the recent movie, but the original stage production that inspired it. In the titular roles were Bob Ari as President Nixon (filling in for an ailing Stacey Keach) and Alan Cox as David Frost.
This play tells the story of the famous interviews between David Frost, a British talk-show host, and President Richard Nixon, who resigned the presidency after the Watergate coverup. It begins with that resignation and Frost’s invitation to the President for a sit-down interview. It continues through the negotiations for the interview, with the bulk of the play being the interview sessions themselves. Through it all, there is continued commentary by Jim Reston (Brian Sgambati). We learn how both Frost and Nixon were looking to the interviews to rehabilitate or change their images. Frost succeeded. Nixon never did, and although the interview started soft, by the end Nixon finally admitted his mistakes, that he might have gone too far, but that he never thought of his actions as illegal. Hubris comes before a fall.
Although the end of the show was good, the beginning was slow (in fact, for some reason I was quite drowsy during the first interview segment, but perhaps that was because the Ahmanson was stuffy). I should also note that the theatre was the emptiest I have ever seen for the Ahmanson. It looked like the top top balcony was empty, and fully one-third of the orchestra was empty. This show is not drawing well: I don’t know if that is due to Keach’s illness or the movie.
As noted above, the lead cast was very good (all cast bios). Rounding out the Frost team were Antony Hagopian (John Birt) and David Sitler (Bob Zelnick). On the Nixon staff were Ted Koch (Jack Brennan) and Noel Velez (Manolo Sanchez). Other cast members were Roxanna Hope (Caroline Cushing), Meghan Andrews (Evonne Goolagong), Peter Hilton (Ensemble), Tamara Lovatt-Smith (Ensemble), Stephen Rowe (Swifty Lazar/Mike Wallace), Kelly McGrath (Ensemble). All actors are members of 
Turning to the technical side. The set (designed by Christopher Oram) was very simple: basically wood paneling and chairs. The lighting design by Neil Austin was primarily lit from above and behind, with minimal obtrusive spot use. Videos were designed by Jon Driscoll. Sound design was by Adam Cork. Costumes were by Christopher Oram, with hair and wigs by Richard Mawbey. The production stage manager was J. P. Elins, with Timpothy Eaker as stage manager and Kelly McGrath assisting him. The production was directed by Michael Grandage.
“Frost/Nixon” continues at the Ahmanson until March 29, 2009.
Upcoming Theatre: Our next production is March 28 @ 8pm, when we see “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” at Rep East. April 4 @ 2pm is “42nd Street” at Cabrillo Music Theatre. We’re planning on going to the Southern California Renaissance Faire on either April 11 or April 12. April 18 @ 8pm, after I take the CISSP exam, will be “Mauritius” at the Pasadena Playhouse. The weekend of April 25/26 is set aside for the OERM Spring Railfestival. May 2 or 3 (pending ticketing) will hopefully be “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Theatre League Thousand Oaks (this is their last weekend). May 10 (pending ticketing) should be “Is He Dead? at ICT Long Beach. May 17 (again, pending ticketing) should be “big” at West Coast Ensemble, to be followed by “The Green Room at Hermosa Beach Playhouse on May 24 (pending ticketing). The end of May (May 28, 29, 30) brings “Fiddler on the Roof” at Nobel Middle School, where nsshere may be involved with the lighting design. On June 6 @ 8pm we’re scheduled for “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” at Repertory East Playhouse, but since we saw that when they did it two years ago, we’re likely to switch to “Fat Pig” in their “81 series”. Lastly, June 20 @ 8pm is “The Little Foxes” at The Pasadena Playhouse. Quite an ambitious theatrical spring.
