What I liked
It’s easy to complain about our politics but harder to know why we got there. I’ll inevitably be inclined to find value any documentation of historical and/or political esoterica, but the process of contextualizing is certainly made all the more enjoyable when the project in question is witty, well-researched, and emotionally evocative. The performances were strong from top to bottom, with Ben Hethcoat turning in a captivating Lee Atwater, and with a couple of brilliantly articulated comedic portrayals from David McElwee and Corsica Wilson. Certainly not a weak link in the entire cast. The staging and production were top-notch, and the several moments of audience interaction added to the sensation of being swept up in Atwater’s slimy charisma.
What I didn't like
Given that this portrayal of the 1988 campaign is at least somewhat fictionalized, I found myself wishing the writer had given us an invented moment in which we got a sense of how Atwater truly felt about the way he was ripping political decorum apart at the seams. His later life was replete with impassioned repentance (which some have claimed was completely phony, an interesting dynamic in and of itself), and I could’ve used just one more beat where we got a clear and unambiguous sense of whether or not Atwater 1) realized, and 2) cared how destructive he was being to the fabric of American democracy. In other words, I left the play feeling unsure whether the writer believes that Atwater is a tragic figure or a villainous one.
My overall impression
A wildly fun romp and an instructive peek behind the curtain at the machinations that did much to lead our politics to the grim state in which we currently find them. With its clever script, creative staging, and stellar performances, this is a must-see.
