Posted on 11/26/2005 5:42:33 AM PST by summer
Rick Cleveland tells Bill Clinton stories in his one-man show.
Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, Westwood, CA
Through Dec. 18
Bottom line: A must-see, must-hear show to open the fine new second space at the Geffen.
What is it like to pal around with Bill Clinton? Rick Cleveland gives us the skinny in "My Buddy Bill," a fascinating and finely executed one-man show based on Cleveland's friendship with the former president.
The friendship is over now, for reasons that become clear in the evening's most revealing episode. But no matter what you might have thought of Clinton going in, you're going to understand him much better on the way out.
Cleveland met Clinton in 2000 when, as one of several writers on "The West Wing," he was taking a tour of the White House. When Clinton's dog Buddy peed on the rug in the Oval Office, Cleveland, who knows a lot about dogs, gave the president an impromptu lesson in dog behavior. It turned out that the two had things other than dogs in common, both having had alcoholic fathers and a "white trash" background to overcome.
It also is clear that Cleveland is a pretty easy guy to like. He's a folksy sort with a dry wit, a laid back manner and an impish glint in his eye. Imagine a grown-up Huck Finn rafting down the Potomac and you can see why Clinton was drawn to him.
Cleveland's stories are chock-full of intimate details and amusing enough to tickle the most demanding funnybone. There was the time he was invited to Arkansas and winds up jamming, drinking beer and playing Trivial Pursuit with Clinton, his strange brother Roger and Billy Bob Thornton. We're also told about a trip to Amsterdam where Clinton, Christopher Walken and Cleveland smoke some very good hash in a stoner bar and Bill, perhaps under the influence because he definitely inhales, has some intriguing things to say about Monica Lewinsky, Sharon Stone, Ann Coulter and other topics of interest.
But of all the people we meet, including Clinton, no one is quite so ... um, commanding as Hillary. We first meet Hillary at an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica where Bill and Rick are double-dating with their respective wives. The Clintons arrive late and obviously have been fighting on the way over, so the dinner has the feel of low-level warfare with lots of sniping and an occasional ambush. One thing is crystal clear: Bill Clinton is not the same person with Hillary around that he is when she's not around.
Hillary, it seems, is not only "watching me like a hawk," as Bill puts it at one point, but she has someone else watching her fun-loving husband. Based on what happens next, one is forced to conclude that one, Bill Clinton would not have become president if not for Hillary; two, Bill Clinton would not have continued to be president if not for Hillary; and three, Bill Clinton owes Hillary Rodham big time for what she has done for him, and she has her own ways and reasons for collecting on that debt, not all of them pretty.
Is Cleveland telling the truth? He does his best in the show's final moments to sow some doubt in our minds, but most of what he says rings true. Completely true or not, though, it's a delicious show to sit through, subtly written, humorously delivered and skillfully directed by Peter Birkenhead for maximum effect.
A final note: This is the debut production of the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the newly remodeled Geffen Playhouse. It's a warm, intimate second space certain to find much use in years to come. The opening piece is a corker.
MY BUDDY BILL
Presented by the Geffen Playhouse
Credits:
Written and performed by Rick Cleveland
Director: Peter Birkenhead
Set designer: Karyl Newman
Dramaturg: Mary Cleveland
Thanks, Dog. Hope you did, too. :)
I'll let you know on Thursday.
Please do. Freepmail me if it is too juicy to go live with it...
The show was excellent. Rick is a very talented story teller. The show lasted about an hour and he spoke the entire time. The only weak point was the ending. As a liberal, he just could not resist getting a slam in on Bush at the end & the story he used to get that slam rang hollow and mean spirited (still many in the audience loved it as I assume most were Clinton fans). In spite of that I would tell people to see it as the story of how his friendship begins, flourishes & ends with Bill is hilarious. I also came away feeling better about Bill Clinton as a dog owner. I always assumed he was using Buddy as a political prop, but this guy knew Bill and hung out with both him & Buddy.
He also really makes Hillary out to be the shrew. He tells of how she & Bill bickered over dinner and a few other revealing stories about their interactions.
Rick ended up in Amsterdam with Bill & Christopher Walken smoking hash at the Bulldog Cafe (I have been there & it is an awesome place). Hillary confronts Rick later with a file marked "Amsterdam" and pulls out an 8 X 10 of Rick passing Bill a joint. Hillary then tells Rick that he can no longer be friends with BIll. The scene is told in such a funny way but it still conveys the scary power and control Hill has over Bill. (After hearing her shrill voice in speeches, I have often felt sympathy for Bill)
(more later, I have to take a shower & get to work)
As for the Ann Coulter comments in the play. It was something unexpected. Rick expalins how he loves political talk shows and Ann Coulter is his favorite guest. He makes a comment about if she were a WWF or video game character her nickname would be something like "Shanna, She Wolf of the SS" (thus fulfilling the liberal nazi comment requirement).
As the story goes, he is asked to appear on a panel of a talk show. The other guests are Ann Coulter & Penn Teller (everyone is on a satellite feed in a different city). He explains how he studied up on all the headlines, read the papers, watched the news...even read the blogs. He said "I did more homework for this show than I ever did in school". Then, he explains that every time he is asked a question....he stutters, makes no sense and recites metaphors that have no relevance to the topic all the while sweating....he totally chokes.
Bill called him afterwards to say "I saw you on the show. Ann Coulter kicked your ass." Bill then asks if Rick thinks Ann is good looking?" Rick responds that she is too skinny and Bill says "James Carville once sent me an email of her wearing nothing but high heels and stepping on a mouse. "
Still kinda wish there was some sauce on Coulter...Oh well, maybe next time!!
He does reveal that Bill could have had Sharon Stone when she stayed at the White House, but Hillary was watching him like a hawk.
That won't be a problem they will just run three or four ultra leftists and Hillary will win.
Ha! lmao... He should'a brought home some of that hash(if he did not) and smoke alittle with Hillary and they both could'a went it and got some lol...
> We're also told about a trip to Amsterdam where Clinton, Christopher Walken and Cleveland smoke some very good hash in a stoner bar...<
You think this really happened? The ex-Pres is going to shake his Secret Service detail and smoke hash unrecognized in Amsterdam? If so, I have this nice bridge in New York I'd like to sell you.
Oh yeah, when Rick sees him take the hit....he says "Hey, I thought you didn't inhale?" Clinton responds "I didn't inhale then...on my first time....and that was pot."
Rick looks at the audience & says "It's all about semantics".
LOL...sounds like a good show. Thanks for your reviews! :)
You are most welcome. There were plenty of other funny parts I didn't mention. One favorite line was this:
Bill & Rick are riding in the limo (secret service in limo too) on their way out to the beach to walk the dogs & both dogs have their heads out the window. Bill says "Someday, it is just gonna be me & Buddy riding down the road in a pick up truck".
Rick turns his head & asks "What about HIllary?"
Bill says "Hillary hates pick up trucks".
Pinging you to my review....
In another part of the story, Bill, Rick, Roger Clinton & Billy Bob Thorton are riding in the limo going to Billy Bobs place after the Clinton Library opening. They are all drinking beers & Ricks commentary was: "The secret service were riding in the car behind us. I think that was the only thing keeping Billy Bob & Roger from tossing their empties out the window."
He then tells of their jam session and how Roger & Billy bOb got into a shoving match then they played Trivial Pursuit.
He makes me so proud.
/sarc
Nope, the secret service were there....Rick says he is fairly certain that the SS agent took the photo.
White Trash is White Trash, Summer. I don't care if he was Pope, he denigrated the White House, the Office of the Presidency and the entire US of A.
Our kids are running around having "sex" that really isn't sex - because BJ Clinton said it wasn't.
In 8 LONG years he practically ruined this country.
He's White Trash. Period.
And if his wife becomes President - we can kiss our a**es goodbye!
I wish you had waited until next week to see it with me!
Darn!
Can't wait to hear all the rest!
LOL!!!
Dasher
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