The revival of Farragut North is presented by Foursome Productions. Written by Beau Willimon. Directed by Peter Allas. Produced by Michael Donovan and Peter Allas.
Stephen Bellamy (Chris King Wong) is a 25-year-old press secretary working on a campaign with veteran manager Paul Zara (Michael Rubenstone). There is also a young assistant, Ben (K.J. Powell), who has his own aspirations and is working really hard to impress Paul and Stephen. A 19-year-old intern, Molly (Camryn Hamm), is helping in the campaign as well. Traveling to cover the race is Ida Horowitz (Amy Motta), a reporter for the NY Times and LA Times reporter Frank (David-Edward Reyes).
The campaign group is confident on winning the race. However, the apparent tightness of the group is disrupted when Stephen gets a call from Tom Duffy (Jack Esformes, God of Carnage), the opponent’s seasoned operative, with an attractive offer to change sides. Will Stephen choose loyalty to his boss, or the opportunity to get closer to the White House?
Playwright Beau Willimon worked for the campaigns of Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bill Bradley and Gov. Howard Dean. These experiences allowed him to get a closer look at the things that politicians and their operatives do to win the races. Farragut North is an accurate depiction of the sex, loyalties, betrayals, revenges, and everything in between that make up a political campaign.
The play also shows the role of the media in the political campaigns and poses an interesting question: How close should reporters get to the candidates to inform without loosing their neutrality? Again and again, a negative note on a candidate can mean the end of a race and even a career.
The waiter (David-Edward Reyes) at the restaurant can be seen as portraying the working class, the ones that struggle on a daily basis to create a better life. The ones that still hope that a politician will change things for the better. The conversation at the restaurant between Stephen and the waiter shows perfectly that there are two kinds of people in this world, the ones who deliver political speeches and the ones who listen to those speeches.
Chris King Wong excels as Stephen Bellamy, a character with a variety of conflicting nuances. Stephen portrays the ambition, the power, the arrogance, the dreams, and the willingness to sacrifice everything for a political career, even if that means to shatter his own life on the way to the top.
Peter Allas‘ excellent direction allows the cast to shine and deliver an outstanding performance that reflects the competitive, pungent, and oftentimes brutal world of politics.
Farragut North
Written by Beau Willimon. Directed by Peter Allas. Starring Chris King Wong, Camryn Hamm, Jack Esformes, Amy Motta, K.J. Powell, David-Edward Reyes, and Michael Rubenstone. Produced by Michael Donovan and Peter Allas. Presented by Foursome Productions. Creative team: Casting by Michael Donovan C.S.A. and Richie Ferris C.S.A., Costume Design by Mylette Nora, Lighting Design by Matt Richter, Sound Design/Graphics by Eric David Tippett, Property Design by Jenine McDonald, Set and Video Design by Peter Allas, and Stage Manager Steve Wilson.
Theatre 68 Arts Complex – The Rosalie
5112 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Performances: Oct. 14 – Nov. 5
Thursdays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 27; Nov. 3
Fridays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 14 (Opening Night); Oct. 28; Nov. 4
Saturdays at 3 p.m.: Oct. 29; Nov. 5
Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 29; Nov. 5
Tickets: www.onstage411.com/farragutn
