Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground

 Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground
Theatre at St. Clement’s
July 8, 2023 

Photo courtesy of
Einstein: This Piece of Ground

Richard Hellensen’s play, Eisenhower: ThisPiece of Ground, is a brilliant piece of theatre for our changing time.  John Rubenstein’s portrayal of Dwight D. Eisenhower is tremendous.  He takes the stage and immediately captures the audience’s attention.  He is alone on stage for almost two hours (with one intermission).  His performance is engaging, intriguing, and thought provoking.

It is 1962 at the Eisenhower farm in Gettysburg, PA.  Dwight D. Eisenhower (played by John Rubenstein) has been out of office for about one year, and reads an article written by a group of historians.  They ranked him twenty-two of thirty-four Presidents of the United States.  This sends him into a fury.  He was planning to start on a book about his presidency (from 1953 – 1961), but now has doubts about the project.  He harnesses his rage and turns on the Dictaphone.  He starts defending his choices.  He tells of his upbringing, his father’s discipline, and his mother’s compassion.  He tells of his years at West Point and his decisions as General in Command of the D-Day Invasion.  More importantly, he reveals his personal philosophy and core beliefs of the role the United States plays in the world and how we, as citizens, need to respect our laws, our freedoms, and one another. 

John Rubenstein as Dwight D. Eisenhower
Photo courteys of
Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground

Under the direction of Peter Ellenstein, Mr. Rubenstein creates a seamless performances.  He smoothly connects the thoughts from one topic to the next.  He creates a character who is unwaveringly driven by an selfless sense of duty.  Mr. Rubenstein is fully present in every moment, sharing this brilliantly written stream of consciousness monologue.  We get glimpses of Eisenhower’s personal emotions, his temper, and his persistence, but what is most insightful is his credence to striving for peace, and his perspective on our responsibility as a nation to set an example and lead.

In 1962 historians ranked Eisenhower twenty-two in effectiveness as president.  In 2021 he was ranked number five.  This illustrates the change of perspective in our values over time.  

Don’t miss this momentous performance by John Rubinstein.  Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground runs at the Theatre at St. Clement’s through July 30.  Don’t miss it! 

Domenick Danza