I went to see David Hare's new play
Stuff Happens at the
Taper Forum in Los Angeles yesterday.
The play is a theatrical presentation of the history of the lead-up to the gulf war. Much of the dialogue comes from published accounts of what happened with only a few scenes coming from the author's' imagination.
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The play came across as openly political, although I suppose that's inavoidable given the subject matter. It was also clearly in the camp of those opposed to the war, as was the audience (when the Dick Cheney character was introduced, there was booing and hissing (no, really!) from the audience).
Much of the content of the play would be familiar to those of us who frequent this forum. But there were a few things that I didn't really understand or appreciate before seeing the play.
These included a better understanding of why Blair went along with Bush (a mix of idealism--he really wanted to make the world a better place after 9/11--and pragmatism--by sticking with Bush, he hoped to get Bush's support in return). A better understanding of why Powell went before the U.N. with his cartoon truck pictures (although I'm not entirely sure that his motivations are as well portrayed). And perhaps most interestingly, a portrayal of Condoleeza Rice as being at the heart of nearly everything that was happening in the White House during the time period. Even more than Cheney, she was portrayed as the puppet master.
The play is running in Los Angeles until July 17th. If you can't get out to see it, you can also read the play.