We like Ike’s one-man show!
Years ago, while reviewing the one-man drama “Thurgood” (in which Laurence Fishburne played Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall), I coined the term “Meet George Washington Theater” for one-person shows in which a performer gave a biographical monologue as a famous historical figure. At the time, I felt like the genre offered little more than a Wikipedia-like recitation of facts and an excuse to only hire a single actor.
Today, however, given the extreme polarization of the country and urgent concerns over the state of democracy around the world, everyone would probably benefit from some more user-friendly lessons in American history – and I suspect that was the thinking behind “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground,” Richard Hellesen’s genial but sobering one-man bio drama about President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the moderate who presided over a period of “peace and prosperity” in the 1950s.
Originally presented in Los Angeles and now running Off-Broadway, the bio drama stars John Rubenstein, a versatile veteran actor who is best known for originating the title role in “Pippin” fifty years ago. (Perhaps there will be a future revival in which Pippin, who is restlessly searching for his calling in life, considers performing a one-man show about Eisenhower.)
Set during the Kennedy Administration, shortly after his White House years, Eisenhower (who is seen alone at his farmhouse in Gettysburg) complains over the phone about his poor showing in a poll of U.S. presidents by historians, which segues into Eisenhower revisiting his life and defending his work while working on his memoir – conventionally, by speaking into a dictation machine and moving around his drawing room. All the while, historical photographs are projected over what had previously been the windows overlooking a grassy field. Act One goes from Eisenhower’s childhood to World War II, and Act Two follows his presidency.
Hellesen brings up concerns over extremism, the suppression of truth, blind loyalty, and isolationism, pointing to General Douglas MacArthur’s flirtation with running for the presidency and the Communist witch hunts of Senator Joseph McCarthy.
Rubenstein, who looks the part of an elder statesman, brings stature, a sense of humor, and some flashes of fervor, especially as Eisenhower attempts to rebut criticisms of his administration, including that it did not do enough to stop McCarthy or address civil rights inequalities.
“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” is ideal summer theater for history geeks and political junkies – simple, straightforward, and sincere. Perhaps dozens of playwrights could be enlisted to create one-person shows about each president of the United States – or perhaps one dedicated high school history teacher is ready and willing to write all of them. They can call it the “Meet George Washington Project.”
Theatre at St. Clements, 423 W. 46th St, eisenhowertheplay.com. Through Sun.
Photo by Maria Baranova.
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