‘Farragut North’ skewers the business of politics

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Michael Dailey and Brian Plocharcyzk portray campaign staffers in Stage Left Theatre’s “Farragut North.”

Updated: November 9, 2011 3:21PM

For one former generation the buzz words were “sex, drugs and rock and roll.” For the next they became “sex, lies and videotape.” Today, the most appropriate triumvirate might well be “sex, spin and politics.” And it is precisely this toxic little cocktail that puts the edge on “Farragut North,” Beau Willimon’s knowing, aptly cynical play about the behind-the-scenes machinations in a recent U.S. presidential primary contest.

The fast-paced drama, already staged in New York and Los Angeles, and soon to be a film directed by George Clooney, is receiving its Chi­cago debut in a smartly realized Stage Left Theatre production sharply directed by Vance Smith. And while its particular story line and characters may be fictionalized, there is always a ring of truth to it. Willimon, a tyro who worked on the 2004 presidential campaign of Howard Dean, captures the sweaty desperation to succeed, whether in politics or the journalism of politics. In fact, his play exudes the rancid odor of associates forever trying to sniff out the winner, even as they are working their tails off so their own candidate might succeed.

At the center of “Farragut North” (the title echoes the name of a major metro stop in Washington, D.C.), is Stephen Bellamy (Brian Plocharczyk, ideally tight-wired and weasly). He is the slick, palpably hungry and ambitious 25-year-old press secretary to Governor Morris, who appears to be the Democratic front-runner for the presidential nomination. Stephen’s boss, Paul (a nicely rumpled Mike Dailey), is Morris’ campaign manager. Though older and more mellow, he has his weaknesses, but the one thing he cannot abide is disloyalty.

As the Iowa caucuses approach, Stephen arranges an exclusive profile of the candidate for Ida (a zesty Sarah Denison), an ever-hungry New York Times reporter who can go head-to-head with Stephen in the manipulation game. He also does the unthinkable: Without informing Paul, he meets with Tom (Sandy Elias is perfection here), the veteran campaign manager for Morris’ opponent who tries to woo him to the other side, either to neutralize him or to use his talents. And at their meeting in a Mexican restaurant he reveals polling information that makes Stephen begin to doubt his own man’s standing.

Meanwhile, Stephen allows himself to be bedded by Molly (the fetching and confident Melanie Derleth), a shrewd and aggressive 19-year-old intern. The sex might be good (despite the Blackberry), but the level of trust is not, with opportunism palpable on both sides of the bed. Willimon keeps you guessing about Molly. But it is Stephen who is the true rat.

Most amusingly, Willimon also gives us baby-faced Ben (Ian McLaren, a hoot), who looks like a high school kid but is already a prodigy speechwriter hot for Stephen’s job. To rework Satchel Paige’s rule, “Better look back — something might be gaining on you.”