James Graham’s dynamic play Best of Enemies transports its audience back to 1968 America, a year of division, political turmoil and war, when the public turned to television to make sense of their tumultuous political landscape, writes Molly Pavord.
Mr Graham pinpoints a moment in history where politics became polluted by pop culture, television and popularity contests, a subject that remains topical today, especially in the wake of Matt Hancock’s recent appearance on reality TV show I’m A Celebrity: Get me out of here.
It centres round the ideological feud between Republican commentator William F. Buckley, and liberal writer Gore Vidal, which ABC news decides to capitalise on in a new television series of the two debating current events in the wake of the upcoming elections, which will eventually see Nixon become president.
Zachary Quinto – famous for his roles in The Boys in the Band, Star Trek and Heroes – is excellent in his West End debut as the shrewd and humorous Gore Vidal, in which Graham explores the archetype of a modern day ‘champagne socialist’ with repeated references to his holiday home in Rome.
David Harewood, known for roles in Homeland, Super Girl and Ten Percent, as William F. Buckley is equally complex, displaying a seemingly unmatched masculine arrogance in the first half of the play which is later stripped down in a final heart to heart with Vidal.
Mr Graham masterfully explores the corruption of politics as the pair become figureheads for their respected parties, and increasingly feel the burden of the elections weighing on their shoulders.
The set is striking in its resonances to overarching themes as it features two big television screens over the actor’s heads, which often features advertisements, or celebrity appearances which jars with the reality of unrest and hardship in the city.
This disparity between politics, pop culture and society is brilliantly summed up when Buckley proudly states “I believe in America,” to which Vidal bites back “which America?”
Best of Enemies is playing at the Noël Coward Theatre until February 18, 2023
David Harewood and Zachary Quinto in Best of Enemies at Noel Coward Theatre. Picture: Johan Persson
