Photo credit: Courtesy of Arena Stage
“To say this is one of the most important stories to put on our stage is a complete understatement,” said Artistic Director of Arena Stage Molly Smith at the world premiere of Camp David. “It’s important to be reminded of a moment—now 35 years ago—when people from very different cultures and perspectives risked their lives and careers and put themselves on the line personally, intellectually and spiritually by sitting down to forge an agreement.”
Former President Jimmy Carter, Molly Smith and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter
“Through Lawrence’s (Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright) brilliant script,” she noted, “this incredible cast and with the incomparable access and research provided through Gerald Rafshoon, audiences will viscerally experience the complex and deeply human process of these pivotal negotiations.”
The pivotal negotiations to which she was referring became known as the Camp David Accords where a treaty was formed between Israel and Egypt by then respective Presidents Jimmy Carter, Menachem Begin, and Anwar Sadat.
Hallie Foote, Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter and Richard Thomas
Camp David (renamed after Eisenhower’s grandson) is the rural retreat of US Presidents ensconced in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Maryland, some 64 miles northwest of Washington. Its history includes the meeting there during World War II between President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and has been the scene of a number of high-level presidential conferences with foreign heads of state. The Accords are considered by most historians to be the greatest accomplishment of the Carter Presidency.
“Washington is the perfect place for Camp David to begin its life, and especially now, when the lessons of that historic moment are so resonant,” responded Wright. “Molly has been an ideal partner on this play. To begin with, she had the courage to commission what was a very ambitious project, and she brought her energy, judgment and insight into the process from the very beginning. It’s been a very happy experience for me to be working with the team at Arena.”
It’s impossible to believe that President Carter will turn 90 this fall. For those of us who were present in Washington during his administration, we recognized the same mannerisms in Richard Thomas (who plays Mr. Carter), that the President was known for: A confident, yet warmhearted casual presence; an accent out of a southern playbill; and piercing blue eyes. We asked Thomas (think The Waltons) if he got the accent down right. “I’m still working on it,” he said as did Hallie Foote who plays the former first lady.
Most everyone that studies history believes today that President Carter got a ‘bum rap’ and that only now is he being recognized for his accomplishments. Most of Carters peers are gone now, but Barbara Blum, a Special Assistant to President Carter told Hollywood on the Potomac that her memories of that time are looked backed on with great fondness. “He was good. He was a really good man who got a bum rap,” she said.
Historian David Brinkley believes that the Academy Winning film Argo caused us to look at the Carter presidency more closely. “As Argo puts Carter in the spotlight, historians have begun to recognize him as a flawed, but visionary president,” Brinkley told us at an unrelated event. Carter’s face won’t be chiseled on Mt. Rushmore someday. Few presidents are. But wise decisions that he made—are starting to come into sharper focus. He wisely refused to be goaded into an unnecessary Middle East war (enter Camp David). Although I’m pulling for Lincoln to win the Oscar, it will give me great pleasure to know that if Argo wins, Jimmy Carter will be smiling a fine elder statesman smile that doesn’t seem discomfiting anymore.”
This was, perhaps, the impetus for the Carter’s attendance at the premiere of Camp David – to be present at a play that recognized his accomplishments as well as to honor his longtime friend, producer Gerald Rafshoon, White House Communications Director under Carter who spent some 25 years trying to get this into production.
President Jimmy Carter with Gerald Rafshoon
“I have wanted to do a film or play about the Camp David peace talks ever since I was a minor participant during those 13 historic days,” said Rafshoon. “The subject and the issues are more relevant today than anytime. Lawrence and Molly are the perfect writer and director to capture not only the history but the suspense and emotional experience of the Carters, Begin and Sadat. Knowing the four characters as I do, I think we have the perfect cast.”
We asked Khaled Nabawy who played Egyptian President Anwar Sadat what was the most admired character trait of Sadat. “He was a gentle man,” he said. Nabawy was thrilled at his role and spent countless hours researching everything there was to know about Sadat.
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin played by Ron Rifkin, Jimmy Carter and Khaled Nabawy
“Do you think most people are aware of just how great an impact this event had?” Arena Stage interview with Gerry Rafshoon below:
“Yes, people understand. They remember what happened at Camp David. It has been the model for bi-lateral negotiations ever since. You’ve got to remember what happened here is that these three people took enormous risks. This was not a popular issue at home for any of them. For President Carter, it was a big political gamble. With Anwar Sadat, it was also a tremendous gamble. Remember, he lost his life because one of his countrymen killed him afterwards. And for Prime Minister Begin it was also a courageous move because there was a lot of opposition to it back home. But they all knew it had to be done in order to have peace between those two countries.
These were three men with three unique personalities and one thing in common: they were all religious and they all wanted to do the right thing. We learn that political leaders have got to take risks in order to do the right thing. Not to worry about your re-election, not worry about anything but making progress on important issues. And too often that’s neglected. You have to be willing to risk everything in order to make the big things happen. So yes, I think people realize that when you talk about Camp David that it was a monumental achievement.”
The Trailer:
Camp David will be playing at Arena Stage until May 4th. Tickets here.
