Frost/Nixon at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Review

Reviewed by Jenny Seymour

Whether you know anything about Watergate and the history of the Frost/Nixon TV interviews, this play is a must see at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. I haven’t seen it anywhere else, but the circular stage at the Crucible only adds to the perspective you get of the Frost/Nixon relationship.

This play starts with Nixon’s resignation speech and is based on the true story of how David Frost (played by Daniel Rigby) approached Nixon’s office to be given the exclusive right to interview the disgraced President Nixon in the wake of his resignation after Watergate. Why would President Nixon give this paltry chat show host the right to interview him over the US syndicates and renowned investigative journalists? Could the “playboy” journalist be the one to get Nixon to offer the candid apology that no-one else had managed to achieve? However, Frost’s political satire was already well-known on the BBC and Frost was determined to interview him no holds barred.

Many of the American people were left extremely angry with the way Nixon avoided impeachment and trial with his resignation and then was swiftly awarded a pardon from Gerald Ford. The audience here is taken on a journey from the point of resignation and Frost’s bold offer to the Nixon camp, through the preparation and finally the audience sits through the interviews – in real time on the tv screens, as would have been seen on tv at home. There are quite a few deviances from reality (Frost didn’t meet Cushing on the plane out to the US and had in fact been dating her for some years at this point), but I certainly wasn’t aware that Frost had funded a great deal of the $600k that he was negotiated up to from his own pocket and how much this risky venture actually cost him – although I’m sure he didn’t regret it!

The play is, in part, narrated by two of the key characters – one from each camp: Jim Reston, an journalist-cum-university lecturer who had written books about Richard Nixon’s abuse of powers as President and was a well-known political opponent of Nixon – a liberal! and Jack Brennan, Nixon’s military chief of staff and ally. I think it is cleverly written how Brennan takes on the combative role you would perhaps expect of a military man and often describes the interviews between the two as though they were combatants in a boxing ring.

Nixon wanted to regain his political career and tell his side of the Watergate scandal and why he allowed troops to remain in Vietnam, whilst Frost needed to regain the limelight (and his table at the celebrity Hollywood haunt) in the US, despite the fact his career was at its height in both the UK and Australia.

Jonathan Hyde is no stranger to playing political icons, I last saw him on the Crucible stage playing the great Julius Ceaser and I have to say he is phenomenal again in his portrayal of this huge political figure who rocked the world with his deceit and betrayal of the American electorate in his cover up of a robbery in the Watergate scandal. He brings out the vanity of a man who believes he can beat all of his cross-examiners with his lies and not get caught out. Did Nixon actually believe he had done no wrong and wanted to prove it? The cockiness to draw Frost into battle believing he clearly had no chance of winning, but the dawning realisation when he realises that one question and his own answer had left him in the political wilderness was acted out so well.

What is great about this production is that it began life as a play 12 years ago (written by the UK’s Peter Morgan who also wrote the current Netflix drama, The Crown) and the original cast of the play went on to star in the acclaimed film adaptation directed by Ron Howard. However, this is the first time that the play has run again in the UK since the film and the presence of one of the UK’s best young directors behind this production is clear.

Often the accents of actors can be somewhat suspect, but the dialect coaches have done a great job here – Jonathan Hyde sounded just like Nixon and Daniel Rigby often sounded like David Frost – particularly when he delivered his well-known catchphrase “Hello, good evening and welcome”. I thought it was acted well and very well cast. A lot of the cast had more of a likeness of who they were portraying than perhaps the original and film cast, Celina Sinden has a look of Caroline Cushing; and Ben Dilloway of Jack Brennan. Some great performances!

It was interesting to see that the designer was the same as for last year’s Julius Ceasar, as the set maximises the space at the Crucible in the same way as was done for Julius Ceasar and you feel as though you are on set at the interview. From the moment, you take your seats the cast are on stage preparing for the first TV scene and it was even as if they weren’t exactly sure when the first gong would chime and the play begin. The movement of the interview set and use of the circular stage worked well – whilst you would not normally like to see the back of the main characters heads, it forced you at times to actually look at the TV screens above the stage and witness the interviews unfolding as you would have sat at home. The presence of these 3D screens hovering over the stage gave the perspective of the TV viewer – how would they have seen the interview tapes? This was done really well, particularly in leaving the lasting view of the up-close shot of Nixon as he makes his final confession – the dawning realisation that he has cocked up and will have to admit his “wrongdoings”. The image that the American people would be left with – their ex-president fallen from grace. Although it was slightly off putting when the lip synching of the screen and on-stage spoken word didn’t actually match.

I hadn’t seen the Frost/Nixon film before tonight, but I’ve been left intrigued both to see the film and any footage of the original interviews. I didn’t realise that John Birt (who would later become Director-General of the BBC) played such a big role in backing David Frost and adding credibility to his pitch. Again, played so well by Simon Bubb.

What’s great again is the production’s use of the Sheffield People’s acting company for their extras. Giving these local people the opportunity to star in such a big play is great.

Whether you know anything about Watergate and the history of the Frost/Nixon TV interviews, this play is a must see at the Crucible. Exposing the vanity of politics, power and corruption at it is best!

Beware, this play is 1 hour 45 minutes without an interval – so make sure you use the facilities before the show! Also, don’t be late, as you won’t be allowed into the auditorium for the first 20 minutes.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £15to £29 (booking fees may apply).

Frost/Nixon is at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from 22 February to 17 March 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or call the box office on 0114 249 6000.

Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA | 0114 249 6000