[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theater review from Theater West and the New LA Repertory Company’s production of “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” by Richard Hellesen, starring John Rubinstein, directed by Peter Ellenstein, through November 20.
Theater West is no stranger to political theater. I saw a number of great pieces there that centered on the innate human ability to take sides. So it was no surprise to me that they gave space to a piece on Eisenhower.
The New LA Repertory Company is reborn with the son of the founder of the original LA Rep at its helm, Peter Ellenstein. Peter’s father, Robert, also co-founded Theater West himself. What a legacy. What an opportunity. What sweet theatrical magic aligns all of these moments to create space for a play about a man whose own life is punctuated by such pivotal and substantial moments, ever-changing, never underestimating the myriad possibilities the human race could to input. Whether it’s big and meaningful or dark and terrible.
“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” is set after the presidency, with Eisenhower at his beloved farmhouse in Gettysburg. His first book published and his second in development, he struggles to find a reason for him to write about his presidency, or for anyone to want to read it. But his publisher is convinced of the value of his second book, not just financially, but also for bringing Eisenhower’s incisive, hard-learned intellect to the world at a time when pragmatism and wisdom were badly needed.
Eisenhower wakes up that morning to find the first publication of the New York magazine presidential list, ranking presidents in order of magnitude, and is irritated to say the least to find his two terms ranked at number 22. These days he’s ranked much higher in the polls at number five, the pullback is really 20 -20 . His editor gave him a tape recorder to dictate his thoughts as they came to him. The first invention of a podcast perhaps? Eisenhower certainly needed to talk, to get out of his agitated brain the thoughts that troubled him, frustrated him or even amused him. He never sought the presidency, he was persuaded to run, against isolationist Taft’s Republican ticket, and save the country from ruin. He won the primary and went on to serve two terms as one of America’s most successful presidents.
A man driven to serve the country, not his own. He sued New Deal agencies and expanded Social Security. He also developed the interstate highway system, founded NASA, and scientific training. Most notably, he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and sent in Army troops to enforce federal court orders to integrate schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. He presided over two terms of phenomenal prosperity in this country and, in his farewell speech, expressed serious concerns about the “military-industrial complex” even though he was Supreme Allied Commander Europe during World War II. . Or maybe because of it. In short, there was so much I didn’t know about Dwight D. Eisenhower before this play.
“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” is a two-act play set in the living room of the great man himself as he talks about the world he lived in and his hopes and fears for the future. . He is eloquent, brilliant, emotional, humble and yet he has a core of steel in him. A ferocity. A weight to his thoughts and words. The words so brilliantly written by Richard Hellesen, who wrote several other historically poignant and thoughtful pieces.
John Rubinstein’s portrayal of Eisenhower is as meaningful as it is haunting. This is not heavy impersonation. He embodies the essence of this tall and complex man. As he strides across the stage, carving his rhetoric into compelling, determined prose, time stands still.
An actor on stage for a 90-minute play about a man who dominates modern American life is a tall order.
But John Rubinstein is as convincing and authentic as Eisenhower himself, without affectation, without maneuvering, only insight and truth, and an altogether masterful talent.
You know when an actor is really, really good when you totally believe him, when there’s no doubt that for the time he’s on stage absolutely everything he tells you is true. John Rubinstein is a comedian comedian. It is the perfect vehicle for its depth, its dazzling darkness and its humanity.
Deftly directed by Peter Ellenstein, who seems to have given him plenty of room to find that role and fulfill it gracefully.
“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” is theater at its finest. It educates us, inspires us, and uplifts a good man, a better president than most, and reminds us that we are blessed with politicians who serve only to serve us. Not themselves.
These are dark days. Cynical days. It’s good to remember that we’ve been through worse and that there are people who care enough about us to fight for the betterment of the world without a personal agenda. Hope they win.
“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” runs until November 20. I invite you to see this piece. It’s rare to be blessed with such a phenomenal actor giving us insight into a man as important to us all as Dwight D. Eisenhower. Cheer!!!
A few words about the staging, the scenography and the beautiful scene created for this play. Thank you all for your excellence!
Cast and production team
John Rubinstein – Dwight D Eisenhower
Richard Hellesen – Playwright
Peter Ellenstein – Director
Joe Huppert – Projection and sound design
Pierre Vuilleumier – Scenography
Esquire Jauchem – Lighting Design
Doug Spesert – Costume Design
Alicia Maccarone – Creative Consultant
Malcolm Wilson – Technical Supervisor
Courtney Rhodes – stage manager
Madison Chmielewski – Assistant Stage Manager
Anne Taplin – Propmaster
Jacks McLaughlin – Social Media Director
Lee Greengross & Douglas Haverty – Graphic design
Johnny Cho – Webmaster for New Los Angeles Rep
Sandra Kuker PR – Publicist
Eugene J. Hutchins – West Theater General Manager
Peter Ellenstein – New LA Rep, Production Art Director
When:
Until November 20
Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Sunday at 2 p.m.
Where:
West Theater
3333 Cahuenga Blvd W, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Tickets:
https://theatrewest.org/on-stage/2022/eisenhower-this-piece-of-ground