Mitchell and Clarkson Read Kushner's Laura Bush Play at Cooper Union Oct. 17

By Robert Simonson
September 27, 2004

For those who missed the August readings held at the American Airlines Theatre and New York Theatre Workshop, Tony Kushner's new political-play-in-development, Only We Who Guard the Mystery Shall Be Unhappy, will be given one more pre-election airing at 7 PM Oct. 17 at the Great Hall at Cooper Union.

John Cameron Mitchell will play First Lady Laura Bush. Patricia Clarkson will perform the part of the angel, and Kristen Johnston will be the narrator. All three were involved in the AA Theatre reading. At the NYTW events Holly Hunter, Cynthia Nixon and Lisa Kron took on the roles.

Only We Who Guard the Mystery Shall Be Unhappy explores the issues of "political morality and moral relativity," according to a release. In the work, Laura Bush reads the famous "Grand Inquisitor" section from Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" to the pajama-clad ghosts of Iraqi children. An angel attends nearby. In a second scene, Kushner himself appears as a character and introduces the "real" Laura Bush, who offers her reaction to the previous scene. The segment concludes with the narrator relating the details of a United Nations-set fever dream she had the previous night.

Twenty dollar general admission tickets are available at www.boxofficetickets.com or by calling 1-800 494-TIXS. Seating is first come.

There will be an "Anti War Dance Party" with music by DJ John Cameron Mitchell and a meet-and-greet with the cast at Luke & Leroy’s (21 7th Avenue South at Bedford) directly following the reading. All proceeds from the $10 door charge will also go to Downtown for Democracy.