Theater Review: The Columnist

Rather Dry Treatment Reads Like Old News
By Lauren Yarger
In the current political climate, when we hear almost daily accusations about the bias of news media, a play about an influential journalist might seem timely.
David Auburn’s (Proof) The Columnist getting its world premiere on Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club, doesn’t quite earn a place above the fold, however.

It’s a great vehicle for star John Lithgow, but unless you are a journalist or a political junkie over the age of 50, you probably won’t have much interest in the protagonist, Joseph Alsop. Alsop began his career in the 1930s and came to prominence for his New York Herald Tribune coverage of the trial for the “crime of the century”  -- the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. He went on to become one of the most influential political columnists, partying with the Kennedys following his inauguration, grieving over his assassination, then advocating  LBJ to escalate action in Viet Nam.

The story here focuses on Alsop’s personal life. Friend Susan Mary Alsop (Margaret Colin) is aware of his closeted homosexuality, but accepts his marriage proposal because she wants the social life he can offer. Brother Stewart (Boyd Gaines) is skeptical at first, but soon becomes a support for Susan, who wants more companionship than her husband can offer. Alsop becomes a devoted stepfather to Susan’s daughter, Abigail (Grace Gummer), but his secret life, and particularly an encounter he had in Soviet Russia with young Andrei (Brian J. Smith), might be just the ammunition his highly place political enemies need to shoot down his career.

Stephen Kunken as Pulitzer-Prize-winning rival reporter David Halberstam and Marc Bonan as Abigail’s unfortunate date, Philip, round out the cast.

Auburn’s treatment tends on the boring side. Journalists using their power to influence history isn’t new – it’s done now with such abandon that we don’t even think of it as unusual any more, so the significance of Alsop (and his fellow journalist brother) is lost. And do we really need another exploration of a guy struggling with his sexuality?

John Lee Beatty’s set nicely changes into the various locations with added projections of typewriting (Kenneth Posner, lighting design) enhanced by original music and sound design by John Gromada. The highlights here are a couple of performances: Lithgow, as the troubled, driven man not comfortable in any world and Colin as the love-starved wife trying to cope. Gaines is solid, as usual, as well, but these characters don’t really have anywhere to go here.

Meanwhile, Director Daniel Sullivan miscasts Gummer as Abigail, then fails to guide the least-skilled actor in the troupe through the character’s growth (she seems to be playing about 8 when we first meet her, but probably she’s supposed to be about 14?)

The Columnist has a closing deadline of June 24 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 West 47th St., NYC. Tickets: www.manhattantheatreclub.com.

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-- God’s name taken in vain
-- Language
-- Sexual Dialogue