Frost/Nixon on Neptune stage

In 1977, British television host David Frost scored a major coup when he secured a series of interviews with disgraced former President Richard Nixon. There was a lot at stake for both men: Nixon considered Frost to be a lightweight interviewer who would give him the chance to rebuild his image, while Frost saw the interviews as a chance to rehabilitate his flagging career.
In the hands of Peter Morgan, writer of the award-winning movies The Queen and The Last King of Scotland, this historic event becomes Frost/Nixon, a compelling political drama that is currently running at Neptune Theatre.
The character of Frost is played by British actor Clive Walton, who studied Frost's accent and mannerisms by watching the original interviews on YouTube and by reading his autobiography.
"Acting gives me the opportunity to become another person," says Walton, explaining one of the reasons he chooses to be true to the flesh-and-blood Frost in his portrayal. "I really like that feeling. And in this case, I found it particularly easy to identify with Frost since we come from similar Methodist backgrounds."
Walton says that while some people may be expecting Frost/Nixon to be a dry or static recreation of the interviews, it's actually a very funny play filled with many quick scene changes that keep the action moving at a brisk pace.
Actor Seann Gallagher plays the dual role of the play's narrator and real-life author James Reston Jr. who worked as an advisor to Frost during the interviews.
"With the Canadian election just over and the American election coming up, I can't imagine a better time for doing this play," says Gallagher, who was last seen at Neptune in David Hare's The Vertical Hour.
"It's a very accessible play that will obviously appeal to history and political buffs, but also people that appreciate good theatre."
Gallagher says that while Nixon is still regarded as the epitome of a corrupt president, the play is fair in that it doesn't ignore the fact that he achieved some significant things during his time in office.
"That's the tragedy of Nixon. The play suggests that it was his desire to be liked and the fear of losing his power that ultimately took him down."
k-watson@ns.sympatico.ca