“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground”

[NoHo Arts District, CA] –  A NoHo Arts theatre review of Theatre West and the New LA Repertory Company’s production of Richard Hellesen’s “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground,” with John Rubinstein, directed by Peter Ellenstein.

UPDATE: Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground by Richard Hellesen, was such a successful hit, they are extending the show again January 6 – 22.

Theatre West is no stranger to political theatre. I have seen a number of excellent plays there centered around man’s innate ability to take sides. So it was no surprise to me that they would give space to a play about Eisenhower. 

The New LA Repertory Company is reborn with the son of the founder of the original LA Rep at its helm, Peter Ellenstein. Peter’s father Robert also co-founded Theatre West itself. What a legacy.  What an opportunity. What sweet theatre magic aligns all these moments to create space for a play about a man whose own life is punctuated by such pivotal and substantial moments, always evolving, never underestimating the myriad of possibilities the human race could grasp. Whether great and meaningful or dark and terrible. 

“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” is set post presidency, with Eisenhower at his beloved farm in Gettysburg.  His first book published, and his second in development, he struggles to find a reason for him to write about his presidency, or for anyone to want to read it. But his publisher is convinced of his second book’s worth, not only financially, but in bringing Eisenhower’s incisive and hard-learned intellect to the world at a moment where pragmatism and wisdom were sorely needed.

Eisenhower wakes this particular morning to find the first publication of the New York Magazine presidential list, ranking the presidents in order of greatness, and is peeved, to say the least, to find his own two terms ranked at number 22.  Nowadays he is ranked far higher in the polls at number five, hindsight really is 20-20.  His publisher has given him a tape recorder as a means to have him dictate his thoughts as they occur to him. The first invention of a podcast perhaps? Eisenhower certainly needs to talk, to get out of his restless brain the thoughts that trouble him, frustrate him or even amuse him. He never sought the presidency, he was persuaded to run, in opposition to the isolationist Taft’s Republican ticket, and to save the country from ruin. He won the primary and then served two terms as one of America’s most successful presidents.  

A man driven to serve for the country’s sake, not for his own. He continued New Deal agencies and expanded Social Security. He also developed the interstate highway system, founded NASA and science-based training. Most notably, he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and sent Army troops to enforce federal court orders to integrate schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. He presided over two terms of phenomenal prosperity in this country and in his farewell address expressed grave concerns about the ‘industrial military complex” even though he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. Or perhaps because of it. In short, there was an awful lot I didn’t know about Dwight D. Eisenhower before this play.

“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground”  is a two-act play set in the living room of the great man himself as he talks about the world he lived through and of his hopes and fears for the future. He is eloquent, brilliant, emotional, humble and yet there’s a steel core to him. A fierceness. A weight to his thoughts and his words. The words so brilliantly written by Richard Hellesen, who has written several other historically poignant and thoughtful plays. 

John Rubinstein’s portrayal of Eisenhower is as meaningful as it is mesmerizing. This is not a heavy-handed impersonation. He embodies the essence of this great and complex man. As he strides across the stage, sculpting his rhetoric in fascinating, purposeful prose, time stands still. 

One actor on a stage for a 90-minute play about a man who towers over modern American life is quite a tall order. 

But John Rubinstein is as compelling and authentic as Eisenhower himself with no affectation, no maneuvering, only insight and truth, and utterly masterful talent.  

You know when an actor is really really good when you completely believe them, when there is no doubt that for the time they are on stage absolutely everything they tell you is true.  John Rubinstein is an actors actor. This is the perfect vehicle for his depth, his dazzling darkness, and his humanity. 

Deftly directed by Peter Ellenstein, who seems to have given him ample space to find this role and to fill it with grace. 

“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” is theatre at its absolute best. It educates us, it inspires us and it elevates a good man, a better president than most, and reminds us that we have been blessed with politicians who only serve to serve us. Not themselves. 

These are dark days. Cynical days. It’s good to remember that we have come through worse and that there are people who care enough to strive for the betterment of the world with no personal agenda. Lets hope that they win.  

“Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” runs through November 20th. I urge you to see this play. It’s rare to have the chance to see such a phenomenal actor give us glimpses of a man as important to us all as Dwight D. Eisenhower.  Bravo!!!

A few words on the production, the set design and the beautiful stage created for this play. Thank you all for your excellence!

Cast and Production Team

John Rubinstein – Dwight D Eisenhower
Richard Hellesen – Playwright
Peter Ellenstein – Director
Joe Huppert – Projection & Sound Design
Pierre Vuilleumier – Set Design
Esquire Jauchem – Lighting Design
Doug Spesert – Costume Design
Alicia Maccarone – Creative Consultant
Malcolm Wilson – Technical Supervisor
Courtney Rhodes – Stage Manager
Madison Chmielewski – Assistant Stage Manager
Anne Taplin – Propmaster
Jacks McLaughlin – Social Media Director
Lee Greengross & Douglas Haverty – Graphic Design
Johnny Cho – New LA Rep Webmaster
Sandra Kuker PR – Publicist
Eugene J. Hutchins – Theatre West Managing Director
Peter Ellenstein – New LA Rep, Producing Artistic Director

When:

Running January 6 – 22

Where:

Hudson Guild Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tickets:

https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=6292

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