…meantime at HoJo’s by Christian Levatino

By Joe Straw

Politicians feel the need for political operatives – to get the dirty deeds done – those dirty stinking rotten deeds – all in a quest for not soiling one’s own linens.

But, inevitably, a dangling thread emerges.  When one is caught in an illegal act, there is a thread so fine, that if one looks closely, it leads to the original incriminating garment wearer.   

Once the door is jimmied, entry for all five shadowy figures was relatively easy.  They came in with their faces down, crumpled in manner, in a way not to be noticed. A morass of men jumbled in conflict and purpose.

This was the second go-around, as they were unsuccessful in the first. The not-so-easy part was the searching, and in complete darkness too.

But, now an immediate and not-so-savvy fix was in order. And this was their initial instantaneous screw-up – the flashlight – projecting out the window like a lighthouse – beaming out beyond the political storm clouds – all the way across the street to the Howard Johnson’s hotel.  

The watchers at the Howard Johnson, muttered something across the walkie-talkie about that darn light source. The shadows, simply annoyed, pulled out a cigarette lighter illuminating little as a token bit of sarcasm to those on the lookout.

(But, the HoJo lookouts were not the only ones observing!)  

Now, the third-rate burglars started taking photos of everything. Working fast, knowing that if caught in the Watergate complex, they would lose their amour-propre forever.  They were each doing what needed to be done for another life, a better life.

(Note: Nixon only lost one state against McGovern in the 1972 election, Massachusetts.  So, why he would risk his Presidency by ordering the break-in is beyond comprehension.  Paranoia tethers a worn garment; perhaps this was the significant thread?) 

Christian Levatino has written and directed an absurdist comedy, or a realistic story, based on what happened on Saturday June 17th, 1972 with the break-in of the Democratic Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. 

Given today's political discourse, both the realistic and absurd flavors are both on life’s menu today. And Levatino manages to tie in the politics of yesterday to the absurdity of today in a way that seizes your attention.

The best way to live this fast and furious theatrical event is to absorb it.  And there are some remarkable moments in this play, particularly with the Cubans as they play chess and discus God’s creation.  The language in Spanish and English speaks a loud and clear message of want, of unostentatious courage, of getting mixed up with the likes of people you wouldn’t want fixing the plumbing in your own home.

Understanding this is a workshop performance, there are certain things could be made clearer.  For example, this show needs a strong “McGuffin,” the one thing that moves the men in a clear direction.  The convincing reason they go into the Watergate complex.

But Levatino creates diversion in each character’s objective.  And the diversions in the writing are interesting elements in this play.  Everyone is breaking-in for his own reason, which is probably why the burglary was doomed from the start.

For me, the “McGuffin” is the Howard Hughes and Donald Nixon papers that drives these men into that office. But, that is the objective of the President, to his pleasure, who we never see.  And, despite the diversions created in the writing, there should be that one strong push that can satisfy the President’s objective before moving on to their own objectives.

After the initial scene in darkness where the arrests are made, we venture back in time to witness Bernard Barker aka Macho Barker (Patrick Flanagan) eating popcorn and staring out the window of the Howard Johnson hotel. He says he loves “Oriental woman” munching kernels out of a movie popcorn box, dropping popcorn and making a complete mess.  As an afterthought, he says he loves Cubans too, blondes, but mostly Orientals.

Around him are his accomplices – Eugene Martinez aka Rolando Martinez (Leo Oliva) and Virgillo Gonzales aka Villo Gonzalez (Hector Hugo) – two Cubans who enjoy talking about life, playing chess, and waiting out the night for the last remaining office worker to leave the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate complex. They are moving in to find a way back home to Cuba.

Frank Angelo Fiorini, a no-nonsense guy, who later changed his name to Frank Sturges (Gregory Littman), reads a newspaper and waits for the inevitable.

The Cubans remind everyone that no one is as crazy as the whites – who by the way started World War I and World War II.

They wait for G. Gordon Liddy (LQ Victor), el jefe, and E. Howard Hunt (Darrett Sanders).  Hunt  wants to be called Eduardo probably because he doesn’t want to be connected with this group and because he carries the thread from the President’s office.

E. Howard is the first to arrive. in the hotel room in a bad disguise; a wig that looks likes a blond cat covering half of his head.  It is a disguise that would immediately draw suspicion from any guard with an IQ of seventy-two or lower. E. Howard doesn't think clearly.

Interesting that E. Howard Hunt would use this line to get the Cuban's blood boiling. In hindsight it seems a diversion of sorts.    

G. Gordon Liddy finally arrives. He tells the burglars that they are looking for information on Dick’s brother, Donald, who received a huge loan from Howard Hughes (even back then, sigh) and they do not want that information leaked to the press.

James ‘Jimmy’ McCord (Michael Franco) arrives in the room with the electronic equipment and Gordon takes him out to the balcony to have a serious talk with him. G. Gordon is unhappy about the first go round, the failed bugs, and now the batteries that need charging.  It’s just not going the way he wants it to go.

Room 723 is where the electronic equipment is kept and where Alfred is to keep an eye and an ear tuned to everything.  Unfortunately, Alfred has his mind on other things.  After this job, he has his mind set on being on the Tonight Show speaking to Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon.

Jimmy interrupts Alfred and Alfred quickly goes back to the spying task at hand.  But Alfred’s a little freaked out when he learns the crew is going back in and he’s on surveillance.  Suddenly, that’s news to him.

G. Gordon comes in, bringing Jimmy and Alfred two coffees to keep them awake on this night. Jimmy shows Gordon the fancy and expensive equipment he bought with the money.

The acting is well above par and solid. But there are things that could be added to make stronger character choices, to make a character soar. These traits are needed to identify and witness a character’s belief in his mission and where those traits are are taking the character.

Patrick Flanagan(Macho Barker) has a nice natural way about him on stage.  He is definitely a lot younger and has a little less life experience than the character he portrays.  A stronger character is necessary to carry the weight of Macho Barker and we really have to find the reason for the character being so sloppy and how that fits in the big screw-up in the end.  That said, there was some really nice work going on here.

Leo Oliva plays the Cuban Rolando Martinez, a man who knows his way.  Oliva gives the character some really nice touches in his natural way on stage.  Rolando expresses a non educated reality, one that doesn’t sit too well with his atheist amigo. Still it is his belief, a tattered conscience, wanting to make his truth whole. The Cuban accent from both actors were terrific!

Hector Hugo plays the other Cuban, Villo Gonzalez, a pick man, and a man who figuratively carries his education in his back pocket.  He is also incredible in the role as he presents his way of life in line with his education. He is a humanist with no religion or country and now he is in a no-win situation when it comes to his counterpart - but he keeps trying nevertheless. There are a lot of fine details in his work and this is a performance not to miss.

Gregory Littmanas Frank Sturges is almost perfect in the role.  He is the right age and is specific in the manner in which he conducts himself. He will not take anything from anyone because he knows where all the skeletons are buried. We know his place in the pantheon of this group but not really sure how he contributes in the overall piece of the production.  He is the Luca Brasi without the payoff.

Darrett Sandersis E. Howard Hunt.  One is not quite sure where the character is going.  He is the contact-man for the administration and has worked with the men before, somewhere in Dallas 1963.  There is a threat from one man who wants the world to know what went on that day and Howard is a little upset by it all. But how does he fit in the overall through line? At times, he seems like an underling, other times, the boss, and still other times a dofus with the pants scene.

LQ Victor is G. Gordon Liddy.  There are times when G. Gordon’s feathers are ruffled into a look of a disgruntled parrot with feathers flying and beak banging against a desk. G. Gordon is on top of everything, a man with a mission who moves men to their doom. He is stone cold when he wants something done, right. Someone needs to say that Liddy does not like to say the word “pants”.  G. Gordon, has peculiarities, particularly with Jeb MaGruder which is why he can't get his meetings with the biggies.  There is a lot of good physical work on stage but LQ needs another pairs of eyes to smooth out the edges.

Michael Franco is mysterious as James “Jimmy” McCord a man who gives the go-ahead when thing go awry.  Somehow McCord’s alliance lies elsewhere.  He is sketchy when it comes to his loyalties, like he’s not on their side. There is a moment when he needs strength beyond recognition when everyone wants to jump ship. His logic must be presented as a reasoning beyond questioning and that is his strength.

There’s not that much difference in Andy Hirsch’s character of Lee Harvey Oswald in Sunny Afternoon and his portrayal of Alfred Baldwin in this production.  Baldwin has many dreams of having a successful career.  One of them is finishing law school. The other is being on the Tonight Show explaining what went on this night. (The imitations need to be spot on.  One hears it in the dialogue but not in the performance.) He never made it to the Tonight Show but he was in California giving an interview to the Los Angeles Times.  Interesting work but there is more to add to the character and also to the role.

I’ve seen Sunny Afternoon, King Dick, and …meantime at HoJo’s by Christian Levatino and can’t wait for the next go round. All three shows will all be playing sometime in October 2018.

Run! Run! Run! And take a political wonk.