Young Vic, London – until 22 January 2022
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
James Graham takes aim at American politics in this acerbic and eye-opening play. The sea change caused by the TV coverage of the 1968 election is examined – the role of media and the public’s attitude for watching verbal dogfights rather than measured analysis is skewered and asks the audience to question just how much attitudes have changed in the past 50 years.
In 1968, protests against the war in Vietnam were on the rise, Malcolm X and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated, and the Democrat and Republican conventions were electing their presidential candidates. Desperate to win audiences from the larger networks, ABC come up with an unconventional convention coverage. They book two wealthy white men who have no idea what life is like outside their bubble of privilege with opposing views to comment on the conventions – the liberal Gore Vidal (Charles Edwards) and the conservative William F. Buckley Jr (David Harewood). Two. The two men are, as Buckley’s wife comments, two sides of the same coin – egocentric, stubborn and intellectual snobs. The series of programmes becomes a battle of quips and slurs until a devastating outburst that becomes a watershed moment in TV history. The scenes where the two men are planning strategies for the upcoming programme with their teams are a delight as they both convince themselves that they are the cleverest man in the room.
As Buckley, David Harewood recreates all of Buckley’s little ticks and is completely believable as an egotistical right-wing WASP. Charles Edwards is wonderful as Vidal, slick and slyly witty with all the charm that Buckley lacks. The rest of the cast all play multiple roles brilliantly, with the TV executives and politicians hilariously mercenary. Syrus Lowe is unmissable as straight-talking James Baldwin – acting as Vidal’s sounding board and advisor when things get too much.
For a play based on interviews, this is never static, and the audience’s attention is given no opportunity to stray. Director Jeremy Herrin intersperses demonstrations, famous speeches and music to maintain the energy and momentum of this fascinating story. Very funny, groan-inducingly relevant and superbly acted – Best Of Enemies is not to be missed.