Farragut North is a Metro stop in Washington, DC, just off K Street, NW, the home of big-time lobbyists, law firms and other consultant-type outfits. Farragut North, the current show at St. Louis Actors’ Studio, however, is about an Iowa presidential caucus season in 2008, although it isn’t specifically about that particular contest.
Stephen Bellamy (Spencer Sickmann) is a hot-shot media guru for a candidate who seems to have a pretty good lead with less than two weeks before the caucuses. He’s 27, a fast-rising star with a great track record. His boss, campaign manager Paul Zara (David Wassilak), thinks highly of him and is pleased with his work. The two of them, plus a very young guy (Joshua Parrack) working for Bellamy and a New York Times reporter (Shannon Nara) are having a drink in a hotel bar when the play opens. The reporter has just finished research for a profile of the candidate while she’s covering him for the Times, but is oozing charm, hoping to draw out any heretofore-secret tidbits from the staff.
Peter Mayer is the chairman of the main rival in the election, and he admires Bellamy’s work. Would Bellamy be interested…? There’s a cute intern (Hollyn Gale) that’s come out from the campaign’s national headquarters. Would Bellamy be interested…?
The almost snake-charmer-like feel draws us into what’s going on and how this works. Sickmann is smooth and adroit, only occasionally reminding us of a used-car salesman, working alongside the experienced likes of Wassilak and Mayer and holding his own with each of them, good as they are. For Wassilak in particular, Paul is a different sort of role, calm, urbane, controlled. It works well on him.
Wayne Salomon directed, giving us excellent, tight pacing, and did the sound design – some really excellent music, by the way. Campaigns are very money conscious, which explains the particularly sleazy-looking hotel bar furniture and rooms coming from Patrick Huber; think Motel Six two weeks before a full refurbishment.
Speaking of full refurbishment, yes, the West End Bar and Grill, which abuts the theater is closed, but the bar is open for before, during and after shows, so arrive early, thaw out, and have a glass of something.
Some uncomfortable behavior and reminders of what happens behind the scenes of a campaign in a very watchable play.
Farragut North
through February 24
St. Louis Actors’ Studio
Gaslight Theater
360 N. Boyle
314-458-2978