Marcia Lewis (Mia Matthews) listens as her daughter, Monica Lewinsky (Kyra Kennedy) expresses herself. (Photo: Ernesto Sempoll)
Rest assured, the compelling, new Winter Miller play, "When Monica Met Hillary," is unlike anything you might have seen on Fox News, CNN, or any other outlet on which one expects spin, distortion, and/or bias.
Instead, as you watch, seemingly in real-time, Monica Lewinsky and Hillary Clinton meet each other alone in a room. It is a meeting in which the former White House intern expresses her regret over her affair with Hillary’s husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Throughout the roughly 90-minute play, the action hurtles toward that one scene, which shows what might have happened had Hillary and Monica ever met after the affair.
Of course, the scene, which takes place during the present, is all a product of Miller’s imagination. No such meeting has occurred in real life – at least not yet.
Miller’s play is receiving its world premiere in a riveting and engrossing production by the daring professional, nonprofit Miami Beach theater company, Miami New Drama, at the Colony Theatre. The production runs through March 27.
The scenes are short and the dialogue is frank, pithy, and snappy. Meanwhile, the transitions into and out of scenes occur with cinematic-like fluidity. During transitions, we hear intense music and audio clips of news coverage overlapping. The play’s pace and intensity suggest the fast-paced, competitive, and cut-throat worlds of journalism and politics, where there is little place for the meek.
Fortunately, none of the play’s female characters come across as meek. Instead, they are strong women. Without pitying themselves or each other too much, these women support each other. They remain tough in a society that, despite gains in women’s rights, favors men. But you will not find any men in "When Monica Met Hillary."
Winter’s play will make you think, laugh, and take you on a satisfying emotional journey featuring humor, heartbreak, anger, sorrow, despair, and more.
Hillary Clinton (Danielle Skraastad) angerly speaks to someone on her cell phone in Miami New Drama's world premiere "When Monica Met Hillary." (Photo: Ernesto Sempoll)
The piece depicts the events that occurred before, during, and after the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. For background purposes, the sexual relationship lasted between 1995 and 1997. Meanwhile, the scandal occurred in 1998. Bill Clinton faced charges of perjury and articles of impeachment in connection with adamant statements that the affair never took place. The Senate ultimately acquitted him.
In addition to Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, the other real-life characters in the play are Lewinsky’s mother, Marcia Lewis, and Huma Abedin. The latter served as deputy chief of staff to Hillary Clinton when she was U.S. Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013. In addition, Abedin served as vice-chair of Hillary’s 2016 campaign for President of the United States.
To her credit, the playwright does not take sides. Instead, she has written the play with balance, giving Monica and Hillary time to tell their side of the story in the play’s climactic scene. The two women argue, forcefully and confidently, about everything from what constitutes a true feminist to who deserved the majority of the blame for the affair to how privilege works. While Monica sincerely apologizes, Hillary hardly forgives her quickly and easily. In fact, Hillary mostly berates Monica. But you get the feeling that Monica was not seeking forgiveness.
Miller portrays these characters not only as strong women, but imperfect humans. Therefore, it is easy to sympathize with them.
Scenic designer Reid Thompson’s simple set resembles a hallway with thick, green, vertical lines gracing the wall. There is also a couch, chairs, and little more. The emphasis is on the characters, not the scenery. During the final scene, two chairs appear at either end of the stage, one for Hillary and one for Monica.
Under Margot Bordelon’s smart staging and direction, the two get relatively close to each other only once during a confrontational moment in the final scene. While the production’s pace is generally fast, Bordelon ensures that we are able to follow the action. Nothing is ever confusing. Also, the director allows time for emotional moments to touch audience members.
There is tension in the room as Hillary Clinton (Danielle Skraastad) is about to meet with Monica Lewinsky (Kyra Kennedy). (Photo: Ernesto Sempoll)
Kyra Kennedy excels as Monica, imbuing her with charm and almost unbridled girlish enthusiasm. In addition, Kennedy nails moments when Monica experiences emotional pain, at times resembling a lost soul who can barely move. And Kennedy’s Monica remains firm during a final scene where she refuses to back down as Hillary chastises her.
Meanwhile, Mia Matthews injects Monica’s mother with believable maternal love. There is palpable concern etched in Matthews’ face, and it emanates from her voice. Matthews leaves no doubt that Marcia is Monica’s rock and biggest fan. The character’s anger at Bill Clinton is also vivid, thanks to Matthews’ intense, yet naturalistic portrayal.
During happy moments, the close bond that Bordelon helps establish between Monica and her mother might bring to mind two girlfriends or sorority sisters who trust each other enough to reveal secrets to each other.
Danielle Skraastad injects in Hillary a dry wit and a sense that the character is mostly calm and in control. And in the last scene, Skraastad’s Hillary manages to be firm without coming across as mean or hateful.
Rasha Zamamiri lends Abedin ambition, conviction, assertiveness, and a contentedness that suggests this young woman is right where she belongs in the White House. Also, Zamamiri makes her character’s suffering palpable after a scandal involving Abedin’s husband, Anthony Weiner, a New York congressman.
Dina El-Aziz’s tasteful period costumes and Yuki Nakase Link’s realistic lighting help to bring the characters and the settings to vivid life.
"When Monica Met Hillary" is not the only hit that Miller has written. In addition, her award-winning play, "In Darfur," about three internally displaced persons in Darfur, premiered in a sold-out run at The Public Theater in New York.
From likable characters brimming with humanity to fast-paced action and meaty material that could lead to healthy discussions, "When Monica Met Hillary" has what it takes to experience similar success.
"When Monica Met Hillary" runs through March 27 at Miami New Drama’s Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. For tickets, https://miaminewdrama.org or call (305) 674-1040.
