The Loeb theater in Cambridge, Mass. is playing host to a figure who has recently been dominating the television spotlight. Bryan Cranston, the star of AMC’s hit drama series Breaking Bad, is in town until the 12th of October, starring in the drama “All the Way.” Cranston plays Lyndon B. Johnson, and the narrative follows the tumultuous events that surround the president’s first term in office.
The story isn’t for the easily distracted viewers among us. It’s a narrative so full of different perspectives and shady motives that people who aren’t already well versed in the time period should be weary. While some parts come off as heavy handed, there is an undeniable sense of intrigue and excitement. In one scene, J. Edgar Hoover casually threatens LBJ with exposure of some of his more unsavory political decisions should the president decide to remove him from the FBI. It’s scenes like this that give the play a greater sense of drama and trickery, as well as making me now believe that American politics are very similar to an episode of Game of Thrones (and it’s real life). The writing also includes little winks and nudges to modern day politics, my personal favorite being: “The Republican party is never going to be a friend to the South!”
Christopher Acebo’s set design and Bill Rauch’s directing can’t go unmentioned. The set, made up of a semi-circle of benches surrounding the center, allowed for the main action to be happening in the center, while various supporting action occurred in the benches. Rauch had several scenes where there would be two groups of people having different conversations, and every now and then they would have the same exact dialogue. It’s a creative way to draw parallels between opposing characters and plot lines that the audience might otherwise think were very different.
The real star of the show wasn’t the stellar writing, but the acting. Cranston is able to turn any scene he’s in from side-splitting funny to dramatic on the turn of a dime. On top of that, he does a pretty convincing Southern accent. Brandon J. Dirden, who plays Martin Luther King Jr., also delivers powerful scenes that capture the incredible burden that these people were carrying. Without the universally strong performances, it’s safe to say that the play would have sunk underneath the weight of its own sweeping story.
For more information on “All the Way” and other plays, go to http://americanrepertorytheater.org
