Billed as ‘a flight of fantasy’, this is a theatrical confection, a fascinating non-typical Australian play.
It’s a conversation between Lyndon Johnson and Jackie Kennedy, set only hours after JFK’s assassination.
Despite being peppered with historical allusion, Ron Elisha’s play is not an attempt to present a truthful account. But it’s certainly engaging, thought provoking theatre.
Photo by Tessa Tran, Breathing Light Photography
Director Michael Dean elicits eminently watchable performances from both Ben Wood and Lizzie Schebesta.
And Nick Plummer and Susan Millar have done a wonderful job of transforming the simple downstairs TAP white box theatre into the interior of AirForce One.
With two famous people and their milieu presented the play becomes, if not hagiography, then certainly an exhibition of icons. Johnson and Kennedy as political royalty? This is a fascinating tension. America is a democracy, isn’t it? And aren’t we?
The play is an exploration of the connection between the personal and the political.
It can be tempting to believe that our politics (and our morality) are something we attempt to live up to, a guide for our behavior. But a piece that looks at the personal lives of the politically powerful can draw attention to the possibility that our politics are often simply self serving.
And, of course, we’re all politically powerful.
And it’s self serving to assume we are not.
Veronica Kaye
Love Field by Ron Elisha
Downstairs TAP til Nov 2
Theatre Red 
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