But he is Richard Nixon.

Stuart, longtime friend to S&R, is a veteran stage actor who portrays the former president in the Longmont (Colorado) Theatre Company‘s ambitious take on Frost/Nixon.

I had the great pleasure of recently seeing the production. As a politics junkie and student of American political history, particularly of the Watergate debacle, I couldn’t pass it up. And I anticipated from having seen Stuart’s remarkable performance as Robert Scott in 2009’s Terra Nova that he would surely immerse himself in this unique role as well.

My high expectations were more than exceeded. I was treated to marvelous performances by all involved, particularly Stuart and Robert Mess as his counterpart, David Frost. The clever usage of manned TV cameras on the stage to show a live feed of the principals on a big screen over the seated actors really drove home the feeling that you were witnessing history anew. Actors in supporting roles, particularly Michael Stedman as Jim Reston and Nicholas Lee as Swifty Lazar, were memorable and engaging. All in all an impressive depiction of one of the most compelling and peculiar spectacles in the annals of American popular culture.

The Denver Post would tend to agree, calling the play “fascinating” and “intriguing” and saying of Stuart, “O’Steen plays [Nixon] cool, with an easygoing charm that relies on truth over caricature or mere impersonation.”

If you’re in the Denver area this evening, make the short drive north to Longmont and take in the company’s final performance of the play. Tickets available here.

Further reading…
Longmont Times-Call: Longmont Theatre gives ‘Frost/Nixon’ regional premiere
Boulder Daily Camera: Boulder Theater: Frost, Nixon
Washington Post: The Watergate Story
Wikipedia: Frost/Nixon (Play)