Best of Enemies - Relaxed Performance Guide

RELAXED PERFORMANCE

WELCOME
We look forward to welcoming you
to the Young Vic for a performance
of Best of Enemies on Thu 13 Jan at
7:30pm.
This pack is designed to provide
useful information ahead of your
visit, including details about how to
get to the theatre, what to expect
when you arrive and a guide to the
show itself.
If you have any questions in advance
of your visit, please get in touch
with our Welcome Team, who will be
happy to help.
welcometeam@youngvic.org
0207 922 2922
2

HOW TO GET HERE
ADDRESS
Young Vic
66 The Cut
London
SE1 8LZ
BY TRAIN
The closest Underground tube stations
are Waterloo (Bakerloo, Jubilee,
Northern and Waterloo & City lines) and
Southwark (Jubilee line). National rail
services are available via London Waterloo and
London Waterloo East.
To plan your journey on public transport,
visit www.journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk or call
020 7222 1234 (Textphone 020 7918
3015).
BY CAR
There is no parking available directly
outside the theatre. Members of the Young
Vic team will be on hand to wait with
audience members who are being dropped
off and seating will be available in the
foyer/bar area.
The nearest car parks are National Car
Park Ltd on Upper Ground, Coin Street
and Waterloo station. We are in London’s
congestion zone operating 7am - 10pm
Monday to Sunday, excluding Public
Holidays. For more information, visit
www.cclondon.com
BY BIKE
There are cycle racks in front of the
building, to the right of the entrance.
There are also Transport for London Cycle
Hire docking points at Waterloo and
Southwark stations a short walk away.
Visit www.tfl.gov.uk to find locations
of docking points and to plan your cycle
route.
3

BEFORE THE SHOW
Whilst you’re waiting for the performance to start, there
will be seats available downstairs in the foyer/ bar and
upstairs in a quiet room.
The same room will be free during the performance if you
need to leave the theatre at any point. There is a lift located
at the back of the building.
BOX OFFICE AND TICKETS
Your e-ticket will be emailed to you prior to the performance.
The Box Office will be happy to help with any queries you have
in advance or on the day. They can provide in-ear and neck
hearing loops if required.
Please note there is no cloakroom at the Young Vic. You are
welcome to take large coats and small bags into the theatre with
you. If you have any larger bags it is possible to leave them with
the Welcome Team at the Box Office during the performance.
For security reasons, your bag will be checked before it is
stored.
TIMINGS
Show Start Time: 7:30pm
Interval: 15 Minutes
Show End Time: 9:55pm
Timed entry is in operation at the theatre. Your ticket will
display your time and which door you will need to enter the
theatre through. Our ushers will be on hand to help you.
If you feel you need to leave the performance at any time,
ushers will help you find your way back to the foyer or the
quiet room.
4

FOOD AND DRINK TOILETS THEATRE
The Cut Bar at the Young Vic is
open 4pm – 11pm and serves a
variety of dishes and drinks. You
can purchase a drink before you
enter the theatre. If you take it
in, it must be transferred to a
paper or plastic cup. Food may
not be taken into the
theatre. To book a table, visit
www. thecutbar.com/booknow or
call 0207 922 2906
There are toilets upstairs and
downstairs at the Young Vic,
with accessible toilets on both
levels.
They are situated at the rear
of the building on the left hand
side.
The auditorium has both upstairs
and downstairs sections which
can be accessed via entrances on
both floors.
There is a balcony with a
number of seats upstairs. The
performance will be socially
distanced.
5

THE CAST
Best of Enemies features a cast who play multiple characters and has
other characters who are described live during the performance.
WILLIAM F BUCKLEY JUNIOR
David Harewood
William is in his early 40’s with brown skin and short cropped black hair. He’s tall
with an athletic frame his face often fixed in a tense and serious expression, eyes
narrowing as he leans in to listen to others. He wears pressed cream chinos with a
belt, and a white shirt and dark red tie. Over this he adds a pale grey suit jacket and
he wears polished black leather lace ups.
GORE VIDAL
Charles Edwards
Charles is in his early forties and tall with pale skin. His dark blond hair shorter
at the sides with a longer fringe. He has a trim physique and wears smart black
double-breasted suit, white shirt and tie or at other times he adopts a casual look in
dark trousers with a snug jersey with a polo neck in a soft brown fabric. His shoes
are polished black loafers.
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PATRICIA BUCKLEY
Clare Foster
William’s wife is slim with pale skin and neck length reddish hair in a wavy bouffant
style. She dresses stylishly, initially more formally in a neat pencil skirt that finishes
just above the knee, she is often seen poised with her wrist cocked as she holds a
cigarette.
JAMES BALDWIN
Syrus Lowe
Gore’s friend is in his 40’s with brown skin and short afro hair. He has an air of
poise and moves gracefully, and speaks eloquently, with a measured tone, always
with a cigarette in hand, he wears a dark suit, white shirt and black tie and black
leather shoes.
ANDY WARHOL
Tom Goodwin
A man of few words, with pale skin and neck length bleached blonde hair, wearing
pale framed glasses. Warhol has a thin frame and slinks about with a small video
camera aimed at others in the room. He wears loose dark trousers with a pale shirt
and dark canvas jacket.
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MATT
Sam Otto
Gore’s researcher is in his 20’s with light brown skin and thick shiny black hair and
a toned physique. We meet him initially in a hotel room wearing just a luxurious silk
robe and boxer shorts. Later he wears dark trousers and a short-sleeved shirt.
HOWARD AUSTEN
Emilio Doorgasingh
Gore’s long-term partner is in his 40’s and tall with a softer fuller frame. He has
short cropped dark hair and strong brows and wears dark trousers and loafers and a
casual short sleeved shirt worn open at the collar.
There are also four smartly dressed men, who are staff of the ABC
TV Network.
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HOWARD K. SMITH, ELMER LOWER, WILLIAM SHEEHAN &
GEORGE MERLIS
Joh Hodgkinson, Kevin McMonagle, Emilio Doorgasingh & Syrus Lowe
Howard K. Smith is the ABC news anchor, often just off-camera, but attuned and watchful to Vidal and Buckley. He is
in his 60’s, tall with pale skin and neatly combed grey hair. His dark suit is smart, his tie fastened with a silver tie pin.
ABC President Elmer Lower is white and in his 60’s with grey hair and a bald pate, he wears a dark suit, crisp white
shirt and dark striped tie fastened with a silver tie pin
William Sheehan, ABC news producer, has light olive skin and heavy brows, his dark hair is cut short and thinning on
top. He wears dark trousers with a pale shirt and plain tie, his beige jacket has a large plaid design.
George Merlis, ABC marketing man, has brown skin, and short afro hair and is in his early 30’s, he wears a shortsleeved
white shirt without a tie and black trousers.
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WALTER CRONKITE, ARETHA FRANKLIN, MAYOR DALEY,
FRANK MEYER & BROOKE GLADSTONE
Kevin McMonagle, Justina Kehide, Joh Hodgkinson & Tom Godwin
Walter Cronkite is a CBS anchor with pale skin and thick framed black glasses. Aretha Franklin has brown skin, her
glossy black hair is piled up into a beehive hairdo. She wears an elegant soft pink 2 piece with shiny embroidered
details embedded into the fabric – a straight skirt that finishes above the knee with a matching cropped jacket.
Mayor Daley Mayor of Chicago is a brusque white man with a stern expression. He stomps about brimming with
stress. Frank Meyer is William Buckley’s publisher. He’s slim with pale skin and neatly combed fair hair and round
framed glasses. He has an old-fashioned look wearing suit trousers and a matching waistcoat and a pale shirt worn
with a dark red bow tie.
Towards the end of the play, we meet Brooke Gladstone an academic. She has brown skin and black bobbed hair and
wears neat glasses. She wears a dark patterned calf length dress tied at the waist with a fabric belt and flat black
shoes.
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BEST OF ENEMIES SYNOPSIS
SCENE ONE - CHICAGO
In a TV soundstage in Chigago, 1968, something has just happened as we find Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley sat
together surrounded by crew and production staff.
SCENE TWO - NEW YORK
From the darkness, a 1960’s television flickers on, we are in a news studio for NBC News, with Chet Huntley presenting
the news alongside David Brinkley. It moves to CBS News before finally landing on ABC News. We learn that it is 1968,
an election year - and the Network Anchor Men are taking part in an interview.
The three individual broadcasting networks talk about their coverage of the upcoming election, deciding how best to draw
in the viewers. ABC bring in George Merlis, a marketing staff member. They decide on ABC’s “Unconventional
Convention Coverage”, an evening round-up show.
They decide to use people that will draw audiences in - the first, William F. Buckley.
SCENE THREE - A PIECE TO CAMERA
William F. Buckley is recording a piece to camera. He is accompanied by Patricia Buckley.
SCENE FOUR - TIME MAGAZINE
Gore Vidal is being interviewed for the cover of Time Magazine, focusing on his new book.
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SCENE FIVE - A NEW YEAR’S PARTY
It is New Year’s Eve and Gore is hosting a party. The party guests include James Baldwin, Matt and Andy Warhol. Vidal
receives a phone call during the party.
SCENE SIX - DINNER WITH WILLIAM
Across town, William and Patricia are having dinner with Frank Meyer, who is William’s publisher.
SCENE SEVEN - THE ABC BOARDROOM
In the ABC Boardroom, William is being pitched to by the executives. They are pitching the idea of putting a well-known
Republican supporter against a well-know Democrat to listen to them exchange views live on television during the week
of each national convention.
SCENE EIGHT - THE ABC NEWSROOM
In the ABC Newsroom, Gore is with the network executives who are pitching the same idea to him.
SCENE NINE - RIOTS
Scenes of riots in Paris and London’s Grosvenor Square have reached the news.
SCENE TEN - FIRING LINE
William F. Buckley’s Firing line programme begins. We are introduced to Mr Enoch Powell, who was kicked out of the
British Shadow Cabinet.
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SCENE ELEVEN - MIAMI
We join a Republican National Convention, as Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley arrive. Within the same scene, Andy
Warhol is shot. We then find Martin Luther King Jr. on screen. A press pack is gathered around Elmer Lower at the
convention. We join the news, where reports come in that Robert Kennedy was shot.
SCENE TWELVE - VIDAL’S SUITE/BUCKLEY’S SUITE
The scene is split in two, as we enter the hotel suite of Gore Vidal, who is joined by Matt and the suite of William F.
Buckley who is joined by Patricia and Frank ahead of the first televised debate between the two men. They discuss what
could happen during the first debate and what topics could be discussed.
SCENE THIRTEEN - ABC STUDIO
The ABC studio has suffered damage as the roof has collapsed overnight. The producers are in a panic as the debates are
fast approaching.
SCENE FOURTEEN - THE FIRST DEBATE
Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley are in the make up chairs preparing for the debate. They both walk to the soundstage
where two chairs are waiting for them. They sit and are set up with their microphone sets and earphones, while the camera
shots are arranged. They make pre-recorded statements to the camera before their main debate begins.
SCENE FIFTEEN - THE REVIEW
A New York Daily news reporter is dictating a review of the first debate. Vidal and Elmer Lower are holding court with a
Press Gaggle.
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SCENE SIXTEEN - A REVIEW
The next day, William F. Buckley is with the producers, discussing the first debate.
SCENE SEVENTEEN - ROUND TWO
Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley take their seats on the soundstage for their second television appearance together.
SCENE EIGHTEEN - PRE-MATCH ANALYSIS
Back in Buckley’s suite, with his team, William looks back at his previous appearances to learn from the debate. Frank
and Patricia talk to William and tell him how best to win the televised debate.
SCENE NINETEEN - ROUND THREE
Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley take their seats again for the next round, on their final day in Miami. At the end of the
television debate, Elmer Lower is pleased that the network is up on ratings by 2 Million from the last convention, while
Buckley takes a call from Mr Nixon. William realises that he must be ready for the debates in Chicago.
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ACT TWO
SCENE ONE - CHICAGO
Aretha Franklin is hit by a spotlight as she sings the National Anthem, with her own soulful twist. The sounds of police
take over, their batons against shields and sirens that begin to drown them out. Backstage, Mayor Daley enters with his
Democratic entourage.
SCENE TWO - THE HOTEL
In the hotel, the Buckley Team arrive from one side and the Gore team from the other. In his suite, Vidal has been given
congratulatory flowers and cards while the phone rings off the hook. In Buckley’s suite, his team are busy preparing for
the next television debate, they are exhausted.
SCENE THREE - THE STREETS OF CHICAGO
On the streets of Chicago, protesters are marching and shouting “the whole world is watching”.
SCENE FOUR - RESEARCH AND REVIEW
William F. Buckley has been conducting research ahead of his next debate. Vidal is pacing in his own suite, reading from
the National Review.
15

SCENE FIVE - MYRA BRECKINRIDGE
Buckley is told by Patricia and Frank that to get to know Vidal and to hit him back, he should read Myra Breckinridge, the
book by Vidal.
SCENE SIX - THE NEXT ROUND
Vidal and Buckley come together for the next round of debates and views. Buckley is this time prepared, catching Vidal
off guard. Vidal tries to reclaim the initiative but fails, within Buckley being prepared and ready to win. The next day,
Buckley is even more assured than before and is enjoying himself as he continues to be in front. The duo continue to
debate as they discuss the war in Vietnam.
SCENE SEVEN - CONFERENCE AND RIOTS
Mayor Daley is shaking his fist, keering at the Senator who is at the podium. The convention explodes with booing and
cheering. Backstage, Vidal is with the Aide. Elsewhere in the convention hall, Elmer is reviewing the press and sales
figures from the live televised debates. Huntley and Brinkley pass him and they discuss the results. Meanwhile, back on
the streets of Chicago, the protests continue. An ABC reporter and his cameraman arrive and show images of the police
gathering and beating, dragging people off the streets. Vidal discusses the riot with Matt. A cloud of tear gas emerges as
Buckley watches from his hotel room.
Back down on the ground, the protests continue as Vidal and Buckley are prepared for their final debate, as the ABC
reporter is bundled in, eyes bright red from the tear gas. Vidal retreats to his dressing room, touching up his own makeup.
He notices that his hands are shaking. James Baldwin appears, watching.
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SCENE EIGHT - THE FINAL DEBATE
Through the light smoke, Andrew, the ABC reporter from earlier, is still catching his breath from the gas. Vidal
approaches and stops, taking the mans hand. He places it gently against his face, eyes closed, just briefly. The reporter
isn’t sure what to do. Vidal removes the hand and continues on his way. He passes Mayer Daley.
On the ABC soundstage, production staff are wearing gas masks. Electric fans are cleared from the stage as Buckley and
Vidal arrive. The studio is full and tensions high. They prepare for the final debate.
Buckley and Vidal conduct their final debate, arguing and shouting across each other. Buckley becomes increasingly
agitated and snaps. The debate is wrapped up by the production staff. Buckley panics, trying to remove his mic pack as a
producer approaches.
The debate was live - the network begins to phone the producers in a haze of panic. It is a disaster, how did this happen?
SCENE NINE - EPILOGUE
Against the darkness, footage from the final debate plays on the screens. The characters watch it. A young media analyst,
Brooke Gladstone, watches from the gallery. An older Howard K Smith joins her, trying to make sense of the debates.
Characters depart leaving Vidal and Buckley, facing away from one another at their own respective views. Patricia and
Howard step forward between them.
What happened after the debates is explained as Gladstone analyses what happened next.
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THANK YOU FOR COMING!
Thank you very much for coming – we hope you enjoyed the show.
The Young Vic is committed to making your visit as enjoyable
as possible. Please let us know if you have any feedback on this
relaxed performance – we welcome any comments you may have.
Chat about your experience with a member of our Welcome Team in
person after the show, or contact us later:
welcometeam@youngvic.org | 0207 922 2922
Photography by Wasi Daniji 18