Nixon argues he’s not crook in ‘Frost/Nixon’ | Arts & Culture

 In 1977 Richard Nixon agreed to a series of interviews with TV talk show host David Frost.

 Never before, nor since, has a United States president been so candid on camera.

 The resulting 28 hours of interview footage was culled into five TV shows. The initial broadcast was viewed by more than 45 million people — the largest audience for a televised interview in history. This record still stands.

 This historic interview is the basis of the gripping drama “Frost/Nixon” which will play at the Springer Jan. 26 – Feb. 4.

 The stage version of this riveting story was a hit in London and New York in 2006-07 and was nominated for 15 theater awards.

 The resulting movie version was selected by the American Film Institute as one of the 10 best movies of 2008, was nominated by both the Academy and Golden Globe awards as the best picture of the year, and made over $27 million.

 At the time of the interviews, Frost’s talk show had been cancelled and he was largely regarded as a lightweight TV personality who was sliding into insignificance. Nixon was struggling to resurrect his legacy from the morass of the Watergate scandal and to convince the public that he was “not a crook.”

  The interviews became a compelling drama with the two protagonists verbally jabbing and sparring like a couple of boxers searching for an opening to land a punch.

 A cast of 10 helps recreate the historic milieu of the 1970s from tennis great Evonne Goolagong to journalist James Reston.

  Playing Nixon will be Springer newcomer David Millstone. Originally from Portland, Ore., Millstone studied acting at the University of Houston. He acted for the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival for two years before moving to Philadelphia where he regularly works and also appears in regional and New York theaters.

 Topher Payne returns to the State Theatre of Georgia after his comedy “Lakebottom Proper” premiered here last spring. Payne first worked for the Springer as one of the two actors in their touring productions of “Greater Tuna” and “A Tuna Christmas.” He is author of more than a dozen plays and received numerous awards for both his playwrighting and acting skills.

 “Frost/Nixon” will only run for two weeks. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays on Jan. 26-28 and Feb. 2-4 and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29.

 For tickets or more information, visit springeroperahouse.org, call 706-327-3688 or visit the Box Office at 103 10th Street (open 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday).