'Fair Game' explores election scandals

What politically-minded college student wouldn't be interested in a humorous drama centered on sex, scandal and "spin"? "Fair Game" — the current Theatre Intime production showing from Sept. 23rd to 25th at 8 p.m. — is a high-intensity political drama that runs, maze-like, over two-and-a-half hours. The play follows five characters, strangely interwoven into each other's lives, through the full-throttle period leading up to a presidential election. Clearly, the subject matter is pertinent to our time, but the complicated scandals and relationships bog down the actors' dynamism.

The protagonist, Simon Werthman (John Miller '07) is a young Princeton professor and the son of the hard-edged female Presidential candidate Karen Werthman (Annie Preis '07), who is running against Republican Senator Bill Graber (Andy Hoover '07). During the months preceding the election, Simon becomes embroiled in an affair with his 19-year-old student, Elizabeth Rain (Nicole Greenbaum '07). Once the scandal breaks, however, real chaos ensues. It is only then that Miranda Carter (Tawny Chritton '06), the campaign-manager-turned-spin-doctor, becomes pivotal, as she tries to finagle the election in favor of Werthman.

I was adamantly warned by the director, Ronee Penoi '07, that she did not wish to convey any political message or espouse her own party inclination. Accordingly, I found the play to carry very little political meaning, other than the fact that it was based around an election. The costumes, designed by Elizabeth Abernethy '07, were simple yet modern and appropriate for each character. The hard work of set designers Tarryn Chun '06 and Ed Davisson '06 was certainly noticeable in the beautiful set, the living room of a house, complete with wooden molding and intricately detailed furniture. The focal point of the set was a very realistic, well-painted portrait of the Presidential candidate and her late husband.

On Thursday, Sept. 16, opening night, the theatre was about a third full. The audience, however, was enthusiastic in its support of the actors and roared with laughter at the slightest joke. The jokes were rare, but the actors energetic enough to keep the audience focused and amused throughout the slower parts of the play.

Miller, who appeared in almost every scene, seemed about 35, as he portrayed the pedantic, self-absorbed and strangely sexual professor. Miller possessed a strong stage presence; his force and command of language propelled the play forward. Chritton, an animated campaign manager, was stressed, frantic and very intelligent. There was, however, something Mickey Mouse Club-like in her performance — perhaps, it was her unvarying effervescence despite the seriousness of the scenes. Rain, who played the young vixen, radiated a sexual vibe that made the audience, fittingly, quite uncomfortable. Hoover, playing the heavy-handed presidential opponent, buttered up the audience with his hilarious Southern accent and mannerisms. Hoover delivered his lines so well, it didn't seem as if there had been a script at all; he was so natural, his speech appeared extemporaneous. Finally, the cold, emotionless Governor Werthman was exceptionally executed by Preis. She was a strong woman who advertised herself as the future mother of America, while remaining aloof and disconnected from her own son. Preis looked and acted as if she were approaching 60.

Although, the script and plot of the play became muddled with too many scandals and intricate personal relationships, Penoi is to be applauded for her hard work. The play was tightly knit, sharp, well-blocked and strongly executed. With so little time for preparation — they only started late in the summer — "Fair Game" is a passionate play of which the cast and crew should be very proud.