The Best Man at Walnut Street Theatr

Paradox Players presents Gore Vidal’s classic political thriller, The Best Man, October 5 - 21, at the Howson Hall Theater. In the play, two men -- one an ex-academic trying to remain ethical, and the other a thoroughly unscrupulous man corrupted by power -- vie for their party’s Presidential nomination.
“When The Best Man premiered on Broadway in 1960, it was widely regarded as an accurate picture of what goes on behind the scenes in American politics” says Paradox Artistic Director Gary Payne, who also directs the production. “But what’s really scary is that it may be as accurate today as it was 50 years ago,” he adds.
In a great bit of irony, Ronald Reagan auditioned for the lead role in that first production, but was rejected by Vidal because he didn’t think Reagan would make a credible president.