Discussion of “Nixon’s Nixon” by Russell Lees
Each month, 35-50 Footlights members meet over dinner with playwrights, directors, and scholars to discuss modern drama.
Participants read the plays on their own (available at Backstage Books, Politics and Prose and Olsson’s), meet at inexpensive restaurants near Washington-area Metro stations, and usually attend performances. Membership is free, although a $5 donation is requested.
About Nixon’s Nixon, by Russell Lees
When Nixon’s Nixon was first produced by Round House in 1999, it received rave reviews, sold-out performances, and multiple Helen Hayes Award nominations. Lloyd Rose in The Washington Post proclaimed: “Round House triumphs... an energetic, live-action political cartoon with surprising undertones of sympathy and sadness...it turns into a meditation on loss and blasted dreams, a little lesson on the mortality of hope.” Channing Gray, Journal Arts writer, raved “Nixon’s Nixon is a smart, sparkling, funny gem of a play.”
In the playwright’s note to his play, Russell Lees says “the play is not so much about historical personages and their character traits as it is about the very human and personal struggles involved in retaining or relinquishing great power and coming to terms with one's legacy.”
The historical personages are Richard Nixon and his Secretary of State/National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger and it is the eve before Nixon's resignation. What happened that night? Where were you and what do you think about these historical events? Footlights will discuss both the historical and the theatrical aspects of the play.
Footlights will see the performance of Nixon’s Nixon on Sunday June 15 at 3 p.m. at Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, Tickets are $45 and include a post show discussion. Make your check payable to Footlights, and send to Robin Larkin, 5800 Nicholson Lane, #L07, Rockville, MD 20852 to arrive by June 7.
