Voice Choices

ELECTION WOES

Hard lessons from a former Howard Dean staffer

A A A Comments By Alexis Soloski Wednesday, Oct 8 2008

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Four years on, what most of us recall from Howard Dean's campaign are those bulbous eyes, that shock of gray hair, and that strangled cry in the wake of the Iowa primary. But playwright Beau Willimon, a one-time Dean staffer, apparently has some more acute memories. Drawing on them to fashion this anguished political thriller, titled Farragut North, Willimon describes the moral and electoral challenges facing a young press secretary, Stephen (played by the marvelous John Gallagher Jr.), who comes to realize that his personal choices may result in distinctly adverse publicity for his candidate. Olivia Thirlby plays a barely legal love interest, and Chris Noth works his smarmy charms as a veteran strategist. Director Doug Hughes manages the campaign.
Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 & 7 p.m. Starts: Oct. 22. Continues through Nov. 29, 2008

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