Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley - Review

Wilton's Music Hall, London

****

Adapted & directed by Christopher McElroen

Arnell Powell and Eric T. Miller

Only on for this week, Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley gives a historical trajectory to a remarkable event of some 61 years ago at the Cambridge Union.

In February 1965, Civil Rights activist and author James Baldwin, together with conservative publisher William F. Buckley Jnr. were both flown across the Atlantic to debate the motion “Is The American Dream At The Expense Of The American Negro?”. In what is perhaps one of the most effective pieces of verbatim theatre staged, Christopher McElroen directs his fellow  Americans, Arnell Powell (as Baldwin) and Eric T. Miller (Buckley) in a recreation of the debate.

An ingenious deployment of grainy archived newsreel footage - Norman St John Stevas the presenter - frames the speeches as Powell and Miller proceed to offer stunning interpretations of their characters’ arguments, each offering monologues of breathtaking length and complexity that prove compelling in their delivery. The text is of course a matter of record, with the evening’s artistic strengths therefore lying not so much in the words that were spoken, but rather in the flair with which they have been animated with such conviction and credibility.

The historic arguments are fascinating. In 1965 much of America’s black population was disenfranchised with much of the country’s South still segregated. Contexting the oratory of the era with the USA of today makes for interesting comparisons. While the Civil Rights movement achieved great milestones, the political dialogues of the 21st century of course offer a different and troubled take on America’s still fractured society. As the Far Right continues to preach hatred, many will argue that in much of the country the liberal Left equally weaponises racial disharmony and discord in pursuit of their objectives. 

Simply staged at a packed Wilton’s Music Hall, the show is enhanced by the supporting performances of Christopher Wareham and Tom Kiteley as David Heycock and Jeremy Burford respectively, who were the student pro/opponents of the motion back in the day.

For those with an interest in modern American history and politics, the play is unmissable.

Runs until 7th February

Photo credit: the american vicarious