Do we like Ike? You'll have to read our review of the new off-Broadway show 'Eisenhower'
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Who’s the greatest United States president? Abraham Lincoln usually tops the list.
George Washington always ranks high, too.
Dwight D. Eisenhower? Is he in the top 10?
Tony Award winner John Rubinstein stars as Ike in “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground,” a new one-man show by Richard Hellesen and directed by Peter Ellenstein.
The New Los Angeles Repertory Company production played this summer off-Broadway at Theatre at St. Clement’s, and it’s back for a limited engagement through Friday, Oct. 27. The nearly two-hour show, with an intermission, is educational, fairly entertaining, and a not-so-subtle commentary on the current state of American politics.
It begins in 1962, and Eisenhower is not happy as he enters the office on his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The New York Times Magazine has published its first list ranking American presidents in order of greatness. Lincoln is No. 1. Ike? He’s 22 out of 31.
Pondering his placement, Eisenhower is recording thoughts on the list and his life for a book he’s working on. He looks back on his Kansas upbringing, his decorated Army career, his victories in World War II, his wife and family, and his two terms as president.
There’s a lot of history here, with stories about military leaders like Patton, MacArthur and Marshall to his thoughts on McCarthyism (Roy Cohn gets a mention, too). Eisenhower also shares what he did and did not do for Black Americans.
The show is adapted from “a vast array of Gen. Eisenhower’s memoirs, speeches and letters, and Rubinstein is convincing throughout. He’s charismatic and speaks forcefully. There’s some humor, too, as the annoyed former commander in chief continually brings up his ranking on the list.
Joe Huppert’s projections help the audience enjoy "Eisenhower." It’s nice to see photographs of historical figures, but seeing portraits of his family is a highlight. The average American likely knows a thing or two about the war, Ike’s military history and his presidency. But hearing stories about his wife, his mother and brothers is far more interesting.
Michael Deegan’s scenic design gives room for Rubinstein to move about. The one criticism would be the small desk in his office. The former president sits there from time to time when he talks on the phone. It’s hard to imagine someone like Eisenhower using what amounts to a kiddie table. There has to be a middle ground between what we see and his desk in the Oval Office.
Act II spends some time reminding the audience about the dangers of democracy, about how we can tear each other part to the point of no return, about how one egomaniac can destroy the country.
Eisenhower, the 34th president, says he always did what he thought was best for the country. Of course every president, and presidential candidate, says that. Nobody wants to take the country down. Right?
And does such a ranking of presidents matter? A recent list has Reagan and Obama in the top 10. While tens of millions of Americans would agree with that, many millions would strongly disagree. That’s America. But give it another few decades — maybe some of them will change their mind.
Go: “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground,” through Friday, Oct. 27, Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 W. 46th St., $55 to $133.50; eisenhowertheplay.com. On the “Eisenhower” website, there is note advising that “The St Clement's theater is located in the upstairs of an old building and does not have an elevator. All seats will be located up about two to three flights of stairs.”
Bill Canacci can be reached at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Eisenhower off-Broadway review: President the focus of one-man show
