Nashville ScenNashville Scene - My Secret Weapon e - My Secret Weapon
1. 12/06/2009 10:41Nashville Arts - Spousal Privilege - page 1
Page 1 of 2http://www.nashvillescene.com/2006-06-22/arts/spousal-privilege/
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Spousal Privilege
Premiere of local playwright’s work looks at the private
lives of recent first ladies
Martin Brady
Published on June 22, 2006
It has been widely reported that, given his penchant for controversy,
President Bush looks to his polite, non-threatening wife to soften his image,
often referring to Laura Bush as “my secret weapon.” Say what you want
about W, but he knows a thing or two about PR. My Secret Weaponis also
the title of Rhubarb Theatre Company’s new production, a dramatized
glimpse inside the White House walls, where, away from the glare of the TV
lights, presidential wives are free to be themselves and talk candidly.
Playwright Carol Caldwell combines credible setup and reasonable conjecture
about the private conversations of recent first ladies Nancy Reagan, Barbara
Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, as if we were eavesdropping on their
unguarded moments. Caldwell developed and completed the script in
Nashville in just the past six weeks. The four monologues—each about 15
minutes long and all enacted with thoughtful craft and subtle variety by
Trish Moalla—take place in various rooms around the White House from
1987 to 2005. Caldwell doesn’t tip her political hand, and how the
characterizations are perceived will be colored by whatever leanings viewers
bring to the proposition. She conceives her subjects with perspicacity and a
keen eye for the telling psychological detail. Whether or not the result jives
precisely with the truth, it is thoroughly involving and believable. My Secret
Weapon is chock-full of juicy speculation; to discuss the particulars might
spoil things for potential theatergoers. But here’s a little tease: • An all-
business Nancy Reagan consults intimately on the phone with her
astrologer. (Her real-life astrologer, Joan Quigley, apparently was a lot more
influential in the Reagan White House than even those who knew about her
would have guessed.) Iran-Contra and Ollie North are topics for discussion,
though, strangely, chief of staff Donald Regan, Nancy’s No. 1 antagonist in
her struggle to orchestrate her husband’s daily schedule, is not. • Barbara
Bush, pearls and all, converses frankly with an unidentified woman; it’s
most likely a reference to Jennifer Fitzgerald, the woman long rumored to
be Poppy Bush’s extramarital confidante (and possibly more). • Hillary
Clinton has a hopeful sit-down chat with Bill circa 1993, which turns painful
as she ponders his penchant for philandering. • Laura Bush steadfastly
makes up her face at a dressing table, dispensing Stepford-like “good
behavior” tips, cautionary aphorisms and health advice to one of her
rambunctious daughters. These moments are a study in the neurosis of
perfectionism. Caldwell has done her homework, and the script is consistent
enough with our knowledge of the first ladies’ lives to be compelling. More
interestingly, the author’s extrapolation leads us into areas where cold-
hearted dragon ladies, doting grandmothers, ambitious eggheads and
demure Southern beauties aren’t always what they seem. It’s hard to know
where playwright Caldwell leaves off and actress Moalla takes over, and
that’s a tribute to everyone involved, including director Julie Alexander, who
also nurtured the script along. Moalla has developed into an exceptionally
fine character actress in recent years, and taking on these diverse roles
seems to suit her growing abilities well. She eschews any overt attempt to
look like the first ladies, but through mannerisms, vocal inflections and some
strategic costuming, she gets the point across with distinction. My Secret
Weapon could well be the first contemporary dramatic work exploring the
lives of first ladies in this manner; given the public’s perennial fascination
with White House affairs (of every kind), it’s quite conceivable that this
homegrown play could have a life after its brief run at the Darkhorse
Theater.
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![12/06/2009 10:41Nashville Arts - Spousal Privilege - page 1
Page 1 of 2http://www.nashvillescene.com/2006-06-22/arts/spousal-privilege/
Share
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With Herself All Day?
November 14, 2008
Boinking: A (Very) Natural History
July 24, 2008
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Conspiracy
June 3, 2009
Ramsey Holding Out Hope Bredesen Will
Go Away
April 17, 2009
Deja Vu: Corker Emits Crazy Talk Over
Auto Industry
March 31, 2009
Most Popular
Recent Blog Posts
So, Who Did the Archaeological Survey at
the May Town Center Site?
[Pith in the Wind] Thu Jun 11, 8:00 PM
David Letterman Apologizes to Sarah Palin
-- Kind Of
[Pith in the Wind] Thu Jun 11, 4:59 PM
Governor Threatens State Budget Veto;
Republicans in Retreat
[Pith in the Wind] Thu Jun 11, 4:46 PM
Gun Freaks Surrender to Common Sense,
Agree to Leave Our Children Alone
[Pith in the Wind] Thu Jun 11, 1:46 PM
Should Government Force People to Buy
Health Insurance?
write to the editor | email a friend | print article | write your comment
Spousal Privilege
Premiere of local playwright’s work looks at the private
lives of recent first ladies
Martin Brady
Published on June 22, 2006
It has been widely reported that, given his penchant for controversy,
President Bush looks to his polite, non-threatening wife to soften his image,
often referring to Laura Bush as “my secret weapon.” Say what you want
about W, but he knows a thing or two about PR. My Secret Weaponis also
the title of Rhubarb Theatre Company’s new production, a dramatized
glimpse inside the White House walls, where, away from the glare of the TV
lights, presidential wives are free to be themselves and talk candidly.
Playwright Carol Caldwell combines credible setup and reasonable conjecture
about the private conversations of recent first ladies Nancy Reagan, Barbara
Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, as if we were eavesdropping on their
unguarded moments. Caldwell developed and completed the script in
Nashville in just the past six weeks. The four monologues—each about 15
minutes long and all enacted with thoughtful craft and subtle variety by
Trish Moalla—take place in various rooms around the White House from
1987 to 2005. Caldwell doesn’t tip her political hand, and how the
characterizations are perceived will be colored by whatever leanings viewers
bring to the proposition. She conceives her subjects with perspicacity and a
keen eye for the telling psychological detail. Whether or not the result jives
precisely with the truth, it is thoroughly involving and believable. My Secret
Weapon is chock-full of juicy speculation; to discuss the particulars might
spoil things for potential theatergoers. But here’s a little tease: • An all-
business Nancy Reagan consults intimately on the phone with her
astrologer. (Her real-life astrologer, Joan Quigley, apparently was a lot more
influential in the Reagan White House than even those who knew about her
would have guessed.) Iran-Contra and Ollie North are topics for discussion,
though, strangely, chief of staff Donald Regan, Nancy’s No. 1 antagonist in
her struggle to orchestrate her husband’s daily schedule, is not. • Barbara
Bush, pearls and all, converses frankly with an unidentified woman; it’s
most likely a reference to Jennifer Fitzgerald, the woman long rumored to
be Poppy Bush’s extramarital confidante (and possibly more). • Hillary
Clinton has a hopeful sit-down chat with Bill circa 1993, which turns painful
as she ponders his penchant for philandering. • Laura Bush steadfastly
makes up her face at a dressing table, dispensing Stepford-like “good
behavior” tips, cautionary aphorisms and health advice to one of her
rambunctious daughters. These moments are a study in the neurosis of
perfectionism. Caldwell has done her homework, and the script is consistent
enough with our knowledge of the first ladies’ lives to be compelling. More
interestingly, the author’s extrapolation leads us into areas where cold-
hearted dragon ladies, doting grandmothers, ambitious eggheads and
demure Southern beauties aren’t always what they seem. It’s hard to know
where playwright Caldwell leaves off and actress Moalla takes over, and
that’s a tribute to everyone involved, including director Julie Alexander, who
also nurtured the script along. Moalla has developed into an exceptionally
fine character actress in recent years, and taking on these diverse roles
seems to suit her growing abilities well. She eschews any overt attempt to
look like the first ladies, but through mannerisms, vocal inflections and some
strategic costuming, she gets the point across with distinction. My Secret
Weapon could well be the first contemporary dramatic work exploring the
lives of first ladies in this manner; given the public’s perennial fascination
with White House affairs (of every kind), it’s quite conceivable that this
homegrown play could have a life after its brief run at the Darkhorse
Theater.
Advanced Archive Search >>
Now Click This
Bar Wars - The Return
Of The Happy Hour
Your Are So Nashville
If.....
Free Stuff
Movies in the Park
2009
Facebook
A Nashville cop's fall from power to
prison
Headed for Splitsville? Just hope your
spouse doesn't hire Rose Palermo
Craigslist besieged by politicians, cops
and the media
Three new hot spots satisfy Music
City's hankering for below-$10 lunches
Hey, young Nashville band—want a
major-label deal? Read this first.
Weekly
Music
Promotions
Dining
Events
Subscribe
GoE-Mail Address
Arts
Related Articles Related Topics
Viewed Commented Emailed
NEWS BLOGS RESTAURANTS BARS / CLUBS CALENDAR MUSIC MOVIES ARTS BEST OF CLASSIFIEDS PROMOTIONS SEARCH THE ADS
Sign up for latest info on concerts, dining, promotions and more!
Receive Weekly Email and Text Message Updates: email:
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