Review: 'Kennedy: Bobby's Last Crusade' with Playhouse on Park

WEST HARTFORD, CT - Playhouse on Park has opened its twelfth Main Stage Season with KENNEDY: BOBBY’S LAST CRUSADE. The play, written and performed by David Arrow, was produced and filmed at the Theatre at St. Clements in NYC for Playhouse on Park audiences. The taping, in which Mr. Arrow reprises his role as Bobby Kennedy, was directed by Eric Nightengale, who also directed the world premiere at Theatre at St. Clements in 2018.

The one-actor play tells the story of the short, yet electrifying campaign of Robert Kennedy to run for President of the United States. The playwright/actor chooses to tell the compelling story from Mr. Kennedy’s perspective, sprinkling some wonderful humor into otherwise weighty narrative. While the play opens with the scene that would mark the end of the candidate’s life, it rebounds to his announcement to enter the race in mid-March, 1968 and travels through the various stump speeches that ended abruptly on June 4 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

During the slightly more than 90-minute performance, the actor expertly reenacts many of the candidate’s most famous speeches, probably reminding older viewers that many of Mr. Kennedy’s principles are still relevant today. What I appreciated the most about this written work were both the private apprehensions shared by the candidate and the very personal events that are related which happened during the four months. Most memorable for me were the scenes dealing with the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his struggle to speak of the assassination of his older brother John F. Kennedy.

The director had Mr. Arrow move about the set as he delivered his almost 90-minute monologue. I found the actor’s performance to be more of an homage than an attempt to impersonate Bobby Kennedy. The appropriate accent was there, as were some of the mannerisms, and it worked well. I learned a lot about RFK, the man who wanted to become the president when I was still a child, although I do have some dim memories of the death of JFK. I was mesmerized by this live performance captured on film, especially after not having set foot in a theatre since March, and I watched this in one sitting. There were a few spots where the video completely stopped, but refreshing the page on my desktop worked for me.

I found some of the camera cuts at the beginning of the performance somewhat disjointed, but these were far outnumbered by the well-timed cuts for many of the scenes that followed. The set suggested any of the vacated rallies held for the candidate, complete with a stage, abandoned signs, patriotic-colored balloons and an overturned chair. There were also some finely curated black-and-white stills projected behind the actor at appropriate intervals. Mr. Arrow was clad in a sixties-style dress suit and had his hair cut in a style that could have inspired people in the crowd to tell him to get a haircut, just as they had during the campaign.

Mr. Arrow, who played the title role in the Off-Broadway production of Kennedy: Bobby’s Last Crusade, also appeared in Anonymous with Chip Zien and Vacuum at the Cherry Lane. He won a Drama-Logue Award for the title role in Albert Camus’ Caligula, and a Dean Goodman award for his performance in Benefactors.

His other writing credits include At the Cabaret Chat Noir, a play with music about the life of Toulouse Lautrec and the cabarets of late 19th-century Paris. He also adapted the screenplay for the award winning short film, Rules of Love. The actor has appeared in several feature films and his television credits include Days of Our Lives, Growing Pains, Passions, the HBO series 12 Miles of Bad Road, Comedy Central’s Jon Benjamin Has a Van, and Broad City and, as Captain Andrew Sutherland on TURN. He is married to actress Amber Paul.

Educators should be aware that Kennedy: Bobby’s Last Crusade is appropriate for grades 8 through 12 and college students. For information about purchasing an educational package, which includes a study guide, a link to stream and more, contact Director of Education Elizabeth Simmons at ESimmons@PlayhouseTheatreGroup.org or 860523-5900 x 16.

The film of the play will be available to stream at home between September 16 - October 4 for $20. Audiences can also choose to view the film at Dunkin’ Donuts Park on Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00pm (gates open at 6pm) for $12.50 per person, parking is $7. A talk back with David Arrow is included. There will also be a viewing at the Ingersoll Auto PoP-Up Drive-In (behind Edmond Town Hall in Newington) for $20 per carload.

Subscribers will have the choice of streaming at home or viewing at Dunkin Donuts Park or the drive-in. The box office will contact all subscribers for their choice. This email will contain a link and a code which will provide access to view Kennedy: Bobby’s Last Crusade by David Arrow. You will be able to activate your code and access the video beginning September 16 through October 4. Once you activate the code, you will have 48 hours to view the play. The email will also provide you with information/links to educational and informational supplements, initiatives, events, and activities which will be offered to enhance your experience. The code is intended for the purchaser only for a one-time use and should not be shared with others. Additional viewing options will be available soon.

KENNEDY: BOBBY’S LAST CRUSADE is included in the 2020-21 subscription package. Subscribers will receive special offerings and features not available to general ticket holders. When/if patrons able to gather in person, subscribers will already have seats. Extra subscriber events are being planned. For all of Season 12, please note that dates, locations, and formats are subject to change. To purchase tickets online, visit www.playhouseonpark.org. You may also purchase them over the phone at 860-523-5900 x10. Playhouse on Park is located at 244 Park Rd. West Hartford, CT 06119.