As we reported to you in a recent Cool Cleveland issue here, we're proud to be running reviews from the PlayhouseSquare STAR Reporters program. You can learn more about it by clicking the link above. Please read on for all of the young reporters' reviews of Frost/Nixon below:

Frost/Nixon @ Palace Theatre 1/13 Peter Morgan's fascinating play -- which seems more like a hybrid between a documentary, a History Channel special and a 1970's-era network sitcom -- opened this past Tuesday at PlayhouseSquare's Palace Theatre. It was recently made into a movie directed by Ron Howard and starred the two original leads of the show on Broadway. If you are interested in the story or saw the film and liked it, this production would certainly appeal to you. The storytelling is alternately funny and thrillingly fast-paced; brilliant performances are given by the two leads, who really provide the best part of the evening. Despite looking more like William Howard Taft than Richard Nixon himself, Stacy Keach offered a commanding and realistic performance. In the hands of a lesser actor, the role of Nixon could easily become nothing more than a caricature.

Similarly, Alan Cox's David Frost oozes just the right combination of sleaze and affability to make the audience pull for him the whole time. The supporting characters only serve as cute fillers between the scenes, with the exception of Roxanna Hope's sultry Caroline Cushing, who was Frost's girlfriend.

At a cool one hour and 45 minutes without an intermission, the production breezes by, and none of the scenes overstay their welcome. The story remains interesting throughout -- pushed along by character narratives and a giant video screen atop the minimal but interesting set. The lighting provides great transitions, allowing the narration device to work very effectively. In a way, it almost serves as another character in the show.

At first glance, the whole production appears to be nothing but a revisitation of historical information everyone knows, but dig deeper and audience members will find something far deeper. Any audience member who doesn't have the historical context of the story -- it may be the case for younger audience members -- should definitely read up on it. Without said knowledge, much of the play will over those younger viewers' heads.

Knowledge of this time in history really brings this show to life; some may even make the connection between Nixon's ill-fated Presidency and that of George W. Bush. No matter how you look at it, Frost/Nixon provides a great night of entertainment and a side to a well-known story that most people don't know.

From Star Reporter Drew Factor

BOOM! That is the first sound I heard the evening of Frost/Nixon. The loud noise opened the setting for the live debate of television personality David Frost and Richard Nixon.

As I sat in the audience, three things immediately came to my attention: the sound effects; a large television screen, and the solitary desk sitting in the middle of the stage. Few props were used throughout the performance -- airplane seats, interview chairs, hotel couches -- replacing the famous desk set in the middle of the Oval Office. These minor set changes were enhanced by an enormous television screen in the background that would show historical footage pertaining to the current stage production setting.

Although the microphones of the actors were turned quite low (making it difficult to hear) extra volume was applied to certain segments of video to enhance the the importance of a key part of the story. Whenever the interviews with Nixon began, an earsplitting noise declared "lights, set, action!"

Without the acting, Frost/Nixon would have been extremely boring. The few times the story line began to waver, Alan Cox (David Frost), Stacy Keach (Richard Nixon), or Brian Sgambati (Jim Reston) brought the audience back to the story with funny political jokes or thought provoking arguments. The contrast of character between Nixon and Frost was so great that it was humorous watching their different stories and lives intertwine. The “playboy TV host” verses the “serious President” in a debate about political views would definitely hold the attention of anyone.

What could be more interesting than completely opposite men discussing everything from Italian shoes to politics?

The generation that lacked firsthand knowledge of the Watergate trial may have found the performance slightly boring at times. But those who had witnessed the famous debate live seemed to be gripped by the shows authenticity. Even I found myself curious about the entire story of Watergate. Instead of history being shoved down my throat, it was presented in an appealing way with skillful actors.

If only history class could be that entertaining!

I found it fascinating how words were so carefully used to provoke others to deliver the hidden meanings. Frost and Nixon found ways of speaking that boggled my mind and proved to me that any debate can be as interesting as a music video.

From Star Reporter Danielle Mendheim

Many younger people may have difficulty with Frost/Nixon if they're not familiar with the Watergate story. Even if you aren’t completely familiar, you can gather a general understanding through some of the early scenes of the play. Some may also wonder why you would go to watch two men sit and talk to each other on stage for two hours, but Frost/Nixon will show you why. Even for those who aren’t interested in history or politics, this is an exciting play that shows the will and determination of two men going head to head, both hoping to come out on top.

Stacy Keach delivers a strong performance as Richard Nixon. He creates another side to this perspiring president, and actually causes you to feel sympathy for him. Outside of the public eye, Nixon is socially awkward and his social interactions seem almost humorous. And yet, with the eyes of the country upon him, he tends to ramble -- reminiscing of old times -- as a means to avoid questions that hit to close to the secrets that he keeps.

David Frost, played by Alan Cox, does an amusing job of creating the always-positive, carefree talk-show host who, despite some second thoughts, decides to take on one of the most formidable debaters of the time. Looking for a nice interview with the former president that doesn’t go too deep, Frost’s team thinks differently. They soon work to try to bring out the president’s secrets and confessions, even daring to hope for a public apology. Frost and Nixon end up in a "last man standing" battle -- one where only the victor will return to the limelight.

With wonderful performances from each actor, it’s hard to decide who you want to win. Both leads inspire sympathy and build a relationship with the audience; in the end, you know that only one of them emerges triumphant.

The real brains behind the entire interview was Jim Reston, played by Brian Sgambati. He covered all of the main research and gave Frost leads to follow that might catch Nixon off-guard. He also partially narrates the story. During scenes, everyone would freeze in place -- leaving Reston to deliver a little more history and context for a scene being covered. This was helpful for those that didn’t know much about Frost, Nixon, or the background leading up to their blockbuster meeting.

Vintage video clips were a great way to cover scene changes and immerse the audience in feeling how things were during the time period. The sound seemed to be a little off -- with the actors speaking at an average volume and the clips being loud enough to make you jump a bit in your seat. Still, it was a nice technique and worth using.

The scenes are not extravagant, since they take place primarily in a hotel and television studio, but dialogue between the characters was intended to take center stage. Still, it would have been nice to have a little more to look at. During the interviews Frost conducts with Nixon, a screen overhead filled in for the sparse stage -- showing the interview from different angles and thus filling up the theater visually speaking. The video close-ups were an effective tool in relating how people sitting at home at the time of these historical interviews would have viewed them -- not to mention conveying the true emotions and intensity of Frost and Nixon during that time.

Aside from some of Nixon’s moral mistakes, Frost/Nixon suggests he was a great president and, based on Stacy Keach’s performance, a decent person at heart as well. Despite his foibles, you feel sympathetic toward Nixon and what he goes through. That's not to say that his lies and cover ups were right, just or called for, but Frost/Nixon makes you take a moment to see both sides of the story and consider what drove Nixon to do what he did.

From Star Reporter Claire Weibel

Frost/Nixon is a surprisingly interesting production about the interview between David Frost and Richard Nixon right after Nixon resigned from his position as president. Frost was the first person to interview the former president after Nixon's departure. Coming into this production, I really had no idea what the “Watergate” incident was. At times, the play got confusing because I really didn’t know what was going on. For a younger generation, the play should briefly explain the incident for viewers who aren’t familiar. The show was done beautifully. The simple scenery helps to focus the skillful acting, which makes sense because the actors are incredibly talented, especially Alan Cox who really captures the role of Frost amazingly. The pacing of the show was uneven at times, but usually picked up after slow moments. Nonetheless, the play was recently was turned into a big screen movie and is now playing in theatres worldwide.

From Star Reporter Hilary Blank

The Tony Award nomination of Frost/Nixon certainly did not shine in Cleveland. The two hour, no intermission play, was that of drawn out timing and dialogue, with the worst technical mistakes a play has had. Despite the age range of the audience, one thing was for sure, the drama Frost/Nixon did not go over well with everyone.

Whether it was for dramatic effect or not, the lighting of the whole show was completely off. There were times when actors would be giving a monologue and be in complete darkness. Now if this was for dramatic effect, it was stupid. And when cast members were supposedly standing in the spot light, about half of their faces were actually in the light. You could barely see the faces of anyone because of the reflection, the poor lighting, and what seemed like poor make-up.

Along with the atrocious lighting and simple set, I about killed my back leaning forward to hear anyone speak. It was apparent that the actors were somehow amplified, but it was very subtle. Too subtle, that the only person you could really understand was Stacy Keach. The rest of the cast never fully projected except the Chief of Staff, Jack Brennan (played by Ted Koch), which was because he was yelling for most of the show. There were times you could barely here the conversations. The only time I found myself having to lean back was when video clips were shown during scene changes that blasted the speakers, and you were forced to cringe at how high the volume was. Despite the size of the Palace Theatre, any good technical crew should be advanced enough to do a proper sound check.

The set was simple: one background with maybe a desk, or a couple of chairs. It was plain, which was completely fine, except for the large TV screen projected above the back wall. The screen was beneficial during the actual Frost/Nixon interview. The short video clips between scenes were useless, degrading, horrific, and the most obnoxious thing I have seen in a play. Not only were these clips terrible, but the screen itself was divided into multiple squares by slats of wood (looking like window panes). Before the show it seemed like a nice touch, but after seeing some of the video, it became increasingly annoying. The final freeze frame of Nixon's face is extremely famous, but I couldn't help but laugh inside throughout the interview, seeing Stacy Keach's head divided into so many sections. The division cut off facial features such as the eyes, or made it hard to see little ticks or movements that would have made the show more suspenseful, but alas the screen was a failure.

Yes, the show was not the longest in history, but with the level of content and the agonizing spans of nothing happening made it very difficult for one to sit contently without a break. I understand that suspense and dramatic build up plays a major role in the play, but there is a certain toleration level that everyone has, and a brief ten minute intermission would have been just fine.

Stacy Keach was the only highlight of the entire evening. The only good actor, the only person you could hear or see, and the only person who you would give credit too. Richard Nixon is an interesting character to perform, requiring, most notably the deep voice, but also the cheap money launderer, the stubbornness, and the overall sense of the man. Keach did a good job portraying one of the world's most infamous crooks and political leaders. Sadly I wish I could say the same for everyone.

Alan Cox, playing David Frost, while trying his hardest, failed. Without a doubt, Frost is an interesting character to play, except at a certain point, the attempt became stupid. Yes the bouncing the knees, the positive outlook, the playboy style is all good, but everything else was terrible. Very little expression was shown, and after a while you forgot the real nature of David Frost, as true with everyone else in the cast. Every other person in the cast, except for Keach, could not maintain their character, speak properly, have infliction in their voice, or show multiple expressions on their face.

From Star Reporter Alex Neidert

I love Stacy Keach. He brought me up as a little kid.

No, not like that.

I clearly remember watching my dad’s Gettysburg and Antietam documentaries on video every day when I was little. Both of them starred Keach as the narrator, guiding me on a surrealistic journey through famous Civil War battles. These videos are part of the reason I love learning about American History and the Civil War.

So imagine how elated I was when I found out that I would be seeing the Stacy Keach in a play about Richard Nixon. I was ecstatic. I bragged to all my friends about how I would get to see this man who, through the History Channel, helped to shape my life. They quickly dismissed my remarks, calling me a history nerd, but that never got me down.

And then the day finally came: Frost/Nixon with Stacy Keach. After a few minutes of waiting in the theater, the large TV screen over the set suddenly turned on quite loudly, and we all stared at in disbelief, some surprised audience members even screamed.

And then he was there, Mr. Gettysburg himself, the one and only Stacy Keach, complete with the Richard Nixon-receding hairline and the husky voice, “Good evening, this is the 37th time I have spoken to you from this office…”

That is when I was no longer in 2009, but transported back in time to August 4, 1974, the date Richard M. Nixon resigned from the Presidency. The display of old cameras and flashbulbs, the 1970s-era bell bottoms and blazers, and those hideously huge aviator glasses all took the audience into a blast from the past. The costumes were notable; I especially enjoyed the large collars peeping out on top of the blazers, a style I became quite familiar with after watching every episode of ABC’s “Life on Mars.”

Although, the first session of the David Frost and Richard Nixon interview took place on March 23, 1977, the actual play Frost/Nixon did not premiere until 2006. It was written by the British playwright Peter Morgan. The play reflected every aspect from the 1970s era. I absolutely adored the simple set, consisting of a lighted wood-panel background and a constant array of chairs. That was all that we needed to let this story be told.

As a person who was not around during the Richard Nixon era, it was overwhelming to experience what generations past had experienced. The actors portraying David Frost, “Swifty” Lazar, Bob Zelnick, and Richard Nixon were particularly my favorites, and each and every one of them is extremely talented.

I could not write this review without mentioning the glorious actor that is Stacy Keach... again. He got “Tricky Dick” down to a science. Whether it was constantly dabbing his upper lip with a handkerchief or getting across his arrogance, Keach was always on cue and in character. Keach was also unpretentiously accurate as he delivered the famous line. “When the President does it, that means that it's not illegal,” then he quickly added, “but some people disagree with me on that.” That add-on sent the audience into a quick fit of laughter.

Another star that shined during the play was Bob Ari, who hilariously played one of the three so-called “crack investigators,” Bob Zelnick. Ari was always in character and on cue. He was excellent, surpassing what I thought he could do after I saw him in his first scene. It is no wonder that he has appeared in so many TV shows and plays on and off Broadway. Talent like that should not be wasted, and it was an exhilarating experience to watch Bob Ari perform. Although his part was only on for a few scenes, Stephen Rowe played Richard Nixon’s agent, “Swifty” Lazar, exceptionally well.

The absolute best, most talented actor of the night was undoubtedly Alan Cox, who splendidly stepped into the proverbial shoes of British talk show host David Frost. I could not wait for Cox to come on stage, and I dreaded the moment he left it. I was especially fond of his British accent, but then I later learned that Alan Cox is an actual Briton himself. Cox was a versatile actor, as seen in the beginning when Frost’s bubbly, happy attitude is introduced, and during the serious scene in which Nixon calls Frost’s hotel room for a sort of “heart-to-heart.”

There was only one actor in the show who did not put all his effort into portraying his character. He was Brian Sgambati, who played “crack investigator” Jim Reston and his character gave off a sarcastic, holier-than-thou vibe.

Overall, Frost/Nixon is an amazing play, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in history, who is 18 or over.

From Star Reporter Robyn Marcs

Frost/Nixon is a good political drama/comedy about the David Frost/Richard Nixon interviews. Set right after President Nixon’s resignation, Frost/Nixon details the story of a British talk-show host who has the first interview with the shamed ex-president right after his resignation. Frost eventually convinces Nixon to apologize to the American people.

The acting is nearly flawless and so believable as to have you wondering if it’s not really happening. The characters in the show interact with the audience, almost treating them as the studio audience for the filming of the interviews or the American people for Nixon’s resignation speech. Out of many good actors, Stacy Keach (Richard Nixon) is the best.

There were some minor technical difficulties: The sound system was either set too low, or simply not working effectively. Either way, the audience had to strain to hear what the actors are saying at some points in the production. Some of the onstage lighting was faulty, going on and off at random moments in the show. Notwithstanding the technical problems, however, the show was and is definitely worth seeing.

From Star Reporter Jacob Oet
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