From the moment actor-playwright David Arrow takes the stage, it’s clear he is not merely portraying Robert F. Kennedy, he is Bobby Kennedy. The actor bears a stunning physical resemblance to the late U.S. Attorney General and senator and has managed to master his mannerisms in most convincing fashion.
The play begins at the end of Kennedy’s 1968 campaign and quickly flashes back and follows candidate Kennedy on the road during the final few months of his life. The play begins by dealing with much of the mundane detail concerning Kennedy’s initial reticence to enter the campaign in March of 1968 – his difficulty stepping out of his brother’s long shadow and his familial concerns.
The story gets more and more interesting as we learn of the candidate’s enmity towards incumbent president, Lyndon Johnson, whom Kennedy views as having lied to the country for too long regarding Vietnam. Kennedy also has to contend with the enormously popular Senator from Minnesota, Eugene McCarthy, who has also expressed an interest in challenging Johnson. Director Eric Nightengale uses clever video projections and audio cues to follow Kennedy from whistle stop to whistle stop, delivering his message – taking what could be a simple laundry list of campaign speeches and promises and turning them into compelling theater. (read more)