“The Best Man” is a Tony-nominated play penned by Gore Vidal in 1960. Though intricately tied to the dirty politics of the time, the play lives on through an ever-relevant plot.
The political drama was put on by Ferris State Theatre. What was presented was a somewhat sparse affair, tense conversations and witty asides taking place in only two shockingly identical hotel rooms.
The play was a dive into a world of political intrigue and emotionally charged mudslinging. Ferris music industry management freshman Isaac Wilson’s character Joe Cantwell seems the charming, happily married self-made man at first, but is quickly revealed to be an at-all-costs competitor without scruples.
Wilson is opposed by Ferris forensic biology junior Tyler Griffith’s soft-spoken William Russell, an intellectual and a man of morals. The play centers on the two’s competition for the popular outgoing president’s endorsement, a scene-chewing role played by accounting major Peter Born-Powell.
Moving along more quickly by having a light-hearted maid service handle the scene changes and having radio and television broadcasts relay the news, the production covered the twists of the Democratic convention and the backstabbing of its attendees in a short two and a half hours.
Ferris restaurant and food industry management sophomore Kathy Satchel said, “I thought what they did with the intermission was a good idea, with the maids and the bellhop.”
Though thick with heightening drama and furious one-on-one debates, there were plenty of one-liners providing levity, often getting laughs from the crowd. The play’s attendees reacted positively throughout, and the cast got their ovation throughout the final bows.
Ferris pre-pharmacy freshman Katie Healy said, “I enjoyed the wit and humor.”
With a weekend of “The Best Man” put forward with Ferris’ best effort, the curtain draws on the theatre for the school year.