September 26, 2008
Frost/Nixon @ The Rep
Despite being a lifer at Webster University, I've totally underutilized the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Last night, though, I succumbed to guilt feelings and the need to expand my cultural outlook, by attending the season's debut production, "Frost/Nixon," an amusing, energetic look at the David Frost/Richard Nixon interviews of so many years ago.
Three thoughts:
1. The play would appeal to all those already knee-deep in the spirit of the election season. Good, political theatre's all over town right now and this production can only enhance the dialogue. Smart, funny, admittedly fictional, but definitely a choice way to spend a "thinking evening." And, it should be noted, it's only at the Rep for the duration of the weekend.
2. While not sure what kind of ticket I could score at the last-second, I found myself at the box office window at 7:10, 50-minutes ahead of the curtain time. Wound up with a sixth-row seat, for a very reasonable $16.50. Everyone chatting around seemed to indicate that they were season-ticket holders, so I felt strangely in-the-know, despite being an interloper to their party.
3. Those folks were not young. It's amazing to hit those moments in which you feel really, really young. When, in fact, you're really, really not. To guess, 90% of the audience was over 60. And, outside of the youthful ushers, very few were under 30. Like so many arts organizations, it's obvious the Rep's crowd has grown gray. Maybe the subject matter had a bit to do with the audience's collective age. But it is striking to see how different the Rep's crowd skews, in comparison to other, newer companies.
Anyhow. I recommend the play!