Theater Review: ‘The Rivalry’

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NEW YORK—“The Rivalry” should be seen by anyone who has an interest in this nation’s past, or indeed current, history. In fact, the play’s presentation at this time is propitious, as this year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, as well as the year of the historic election of Barack Obama to the presidency.

Now playing at the Irish Repertory Theatre, “The Rivalry” is the riveting and cleverly constructed play by Norman Corwin. It surrounds the major content of the famed debates between the nation’s most noted orators, Abraham Lincoln (Christian Kauffmann) and Stephen A. Douglas (Peter Cormican), which took place in 1858, only three years before the Civil War tore the country asunder.

The debates were based upon the difference of opinion between the Republican attorney Abraham Lincoln and the Democratic senator Douglas, regarding the equality of the races.

Lincoln repeatedly hammered home the point that “all men are created equal,” a right afforded by the U.S. Constitution.

Douglas countered with his belief that that point referred only to white people, that is, Americans and Britons.

At stake was the right of the slaveholding South to continue to hold slaves, that is, to make human beings, albeit of a different color, do unpaid service to other humans.

A startling, eye-opening revelation is the discussion between Lincoln and Douglas of the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision in 1857, only one year prior to the debates. The Court had ruled that people of African-American descent imported as slaves, or their descendants, could never be citizens and were considered property.

Meanwhile, the nation was teetering ever closer to a split between the North and South, an event that both politicians wanted to avoid, at any cost.

The playwright has inserted the character of Adele Douglas (Mary Linda Rapelye) to accompany her husband, the senator, on his various trips to meet Lincoln for the debates.

There is a witty scene wherein Douglas persuades his initially reluctant wife to go with him. Dramatically, Mrs. Douglas’s presence serves a good purpose. The couple’s conversations highlight Douglas’s philosophy regarding slavery and his attitude toward his opponent—at first somewhat scornful, then gradually building to a healthy respect for the countrified attorney.

Playwright Norman Corwin, arguably the finest radio writer of the 1930s and ‘40s, received an Academy Award nomination for his film script “Lust for Life,” which deals with the life of the painter Vincent van Gogh. Here he has crafted a script for “The Rivalry” that clearly and dramatically illustrates the concerns and passions of the era preceding the Civil War. The actual stenographic record of the debates is utilized, though edited as to length and order. (The full text of the debates would be unwieldy in a terse theatrical presentation.)

Performances are remarkable. In fact, the Lincoln of Christian Kauffmann is spellbinding. His resemblance to the late president is uncanny, while his presentation of what we know of Lincoln appears to be dead-on accurate. We witness the lanky, somewhat ungraceful, understated, but wise man, who ultimately binds the wounds of an injured nation.

Peter Cormican presents Douglas as a somewhat stuffy, self-satisfied man, which is probably right, in view of what history tells us. In this play, the situation develops to Lincoln becoming president, with Douglas finally humbled and appreciative of his former foe.

Mary Linda Rapelye’s Adele Douglas lends warmth and intelligence, as well as a welcome feminine presence to this otherwise stern presentation. Her few scenes with Lincoln also supply humor as her husband’s opponent plies her with his jokes.

Another cast member, Doug Stender, in brief vignettes as a Republican committeeman and reporter, brings effective high energy to his roles.

The piece is skillfully directed by Vincent Dowling, former longtime artistic director of Ireland’s National Theatre, The Abbey Theatre of Dublin, and founder of The Vincent Dowling Theatre Company.

The Rivalry
Irish Repertory Theatre
132 West 22nd Street
Tickets: 212-727-2737
Running time: Approximately 2 hours
Closes: July 19

Diana Barth writes and publishes “New Millennium,” an arts coverage newsletter. For information: diabarth@juno.com. She also reviews for TotalTheater.com.