While history and politics junkies will enjoy Arizona Theatre Company’s world premiere production of “Five Presidents,” the fast-paced and witty play may be too much for anyone unfamiliar with the Watergate scandal, Iranian hostage crisis or Operation Desert Storm.
Written by Emmy award winning Rick Cleveland — whose impressive résumé includes credits for "House of Cards," "The West Wing" and "Mad Men" — “Five Presidents” attempts to answer some of the burning questions Americans might ask about the inner lives of presidents.
Do presidents hold grudges? Or talk badly about political rivals? Do they curse and drink? Are presidents from opposing political parties civil with each other? Are there unspoken rules each president follows?
Cleveland told Arizona Theatre Company’s literary associate Katherine Monberg, as printed in the show program, that the one act play was inspired by a photo of Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr. and Clinton standing side by side at President Richard Nixon’s funeral in 1994.
“Because of Watergate, Nixon’s presidency changed the office for everyone that came after,” Cleveland said. “I started wondering what these guys might have talked about when they were together on that memorable day, behind closed doors.”
“Five Presidents” hypothesizes just that. The central conflict is President Ford’s last-minute decision to not give a eulogy for Nixon, as he feels he has done enough for Nixon by pardoning him and ruining his own reputation in the process. The other four presidents feel that’s not the best idea, and conversation ensues.
The dialogue shifts quite swiftly from jokes about extramarital affairs and golf, showing the camaraderie between members of this “exclusive club,” to tense standoffs about the number of American lives lost during each president’s term and morbid hints at Reagan’s developing Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.
The back-and-forth between serious and lighthearted moments unfortunately prevents any resonating impact on the audience. It feels as if we’re skimming the surface. Then again, the play is meant to be overheard and could seem insincere without the natural awkward attempt to swing conversation away from controversial subjects.
The script is split between verbal slapstick and history lessons. There are some obvious jokes with expected laughs on cue, but the recaps of the major events in each president’s term feel somewhat forced.
The moments of confrontation in the script shine, however, and give the most realistic insight to what each president must have felt and experienced during his term.
The actors skillfully display the essence of each president without making the show feel like a parody, though writer Cleveland adds a moment of irony when Bush Sr. laments their portrayals on "Saturday Night Live." Carter adds, “They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
“F--- that,” Bush replies.
“Five Presidents” continues through Feb. 22 at Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St. Phoenix, before continuing on to Milwaukee Repertory Theater in March.
Reach the reporter at enichol3@asu.edu or follow @LizNichols4 on Twitter.
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