Political strategist Gilbert Nichols III, aka Trip, makes this pronouncement in Thomas H. Diggs’ new play "Fair and Decent," which will have its world premiere at Luna Stage as the 2008-2009 season-opener. The play begins preview performances on Oct. 2, officially opens on Oct. 10, and runs through Nov. 2. Artistic Director Jane Mandel, who is directing the play, stated that producing "Fair and Decent" just before the presidential election was intentional. "The world issues of this play echo loud and clear today."

"We wanted to begin our season with ‘Fair and Decent,’ which is set at an election time in the past as we face an enormously important election time today," Mandel stated. The play had been part of Luna Stage’s New Moon Reading Series this past spring. Managing Director Mona Hennessy noted that audience response to the play "convinced us that this play was worth producing – especially as the first production right in the heat of the current presidential race."

"Fair and Decent" is a political comedy/drama, which takes place in 1980, at the dawn of the Reagan presidency. It begins in a Washington think tank as the insiders there excitedly prepare to influence the new administration. The historical context revolves around the effort to do away with The Fairness Doctrine.

The Fairness Doctrine was an FCC policy requiring holders of broadcast licenses to present contrasting viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance. This doctrine no longer exists, as evidenced by the many provocatively opinionated media programs currently airing.

The playwright was inspired to write the story by the radio show "Democracy Now" with host Amy Goodman. There were discussions on that program about The Fairness Doctrine and about how it had been so effectively dismantled. Diggs began to imagine the people who might have been behind the change in policy. His characters, he noted, started out as stereotypes but as the play developed creatively, he found real human beings evolving.

Mandel pointed out, "‘Fair and Decent’ is not a play solely about politics – it is not a political diatribe. It is first and foremost a story about people. I was drawn to select it for our season and to direct it myself not only because of its dramatic impact, but also because there are no ‘good guys’ or ‘bad guys’ in the story. Everyone is flawed. Everyone has personal needs and loyalties, struggles and conflicts. Audiences will find their sympathies realign throughout the play."

Diggs says that is his hope. "For me it is important that ‘Fair and Decent’ work as a piece of theater. The play’s five characters should be strong allies in their cause, dismantling The Fairness Doctrine, but their political aspirations are overshadowed by personal objectives and sensitivities. Partisan politics is the backdrop for an examination of the lies people tell themselves to survive. These are uber-clever political operatives who often battle over who is the smartest guy in the room. At the same time, they care about their personal legacies, and their loyalty to their country and faith."

Tom Diggs is a recent graduate from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with an M.F.A. in dramatic writing. His work has been seen off-off-Broadway and at major regional theaters, including East/West Players, Intiman Theatre, The Seattle Rep and Moving Arts (L.A.). He was named a Dramatist Guild Fellow for 2007-2008 and is a member of the BMI Lyricists Workshop. "Fair and Decent" was commissioned by The Kennedy Center and The National New Play Network. "I’m thrilled," Diggs stated, "that its world premiere is at Luna Stage and that the artistic director chose to direct it."

Jane Mandel is the founder of Luna Stage and has directed many of the productions that have earned Luna its reputation as one of New Jersey’s outstanding regional theaters. She honors Luna’s mission, which is to present theater that is at once entertaining, powerful and thought-provoking. "I really believe," she stated, "it is vital for the future of American theater that we support new playwrights and that we provide opportunities for fresh and varied voices to be heard."

The cast members of "Fair and Decent" are all new to Luna’s stage, but not to the theater scene. Veteran actor Richard Bowden’s long list of credits includes appearing on Broadway with Ingrid Bergman, at the Kennedy Center with Irene Worth, in Romulus Linney’s "Heathen Valley" at the Signature Theatre, and on regional stages across the country from Walnut Street in Philadelphia to Indiana Rep. Bowden plays Addison, an academic who used to be – and still wants to be – a moving force behind the political scenes.

Alan Pagano plays Trip, a brilliant young strategist with few social skills. Pagano recently graduated from Wagner College with a B.A. in theater and speech. He did in fact appear on stage in the Luna building – in Running Rabbit Family Theatre’s production of "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" Running Rabbit is in-residence at Luna Stage.

Trip’s curmudgeonly father, Gil, who is dying of cancer, is played by Thom Molyneaux, whose name will be familiar to readers of The Montclair Times Arts pages. Thom Molyneaux is an actor, director and playwright, and is also an award-winning theater critic for North Jersey Media. His reviews have appeared regularly in The Montclair Times — though, of course, he has excused himself from reviewing "Fair and Decent." "Actually, we wouldn’t have minded having him review himself!" stated Mona Hennessy with a laugh.

Michael Ellison, who hails from Texas and is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School, plays Reed, the handsome, All-American who enters the political game with an agenda of his own. Among his credits, Ellison includes appearances in a number of productions at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and on television in "Law and Order: Criminal Intent."

Jennifer Dean is MaryBeth, Reed’s wife who is trying to hold her family together and deal with her husband’s inability to face the issues in their lives. Dean recently moved from San Francisco where she performed with various theater companies and won the Dean Goodman award for her performance as Carol in Bare Bones Theater’s production of "Oleanna."

Director Mandel has brought together a dynamic creative team, many of whom have done other great work at Luna. Jian Jung returns as set designer. She designed last season’s, "Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue," as well the previous season’s "Nocturne." Jung is from Korea, where she received an M.F.A. in environmental design. She received another M.F.A. in design for theater and film from New York University and has since been designing sets for theaters in both New York and Seoul. Among her recent New York credits is set designs for "The Tempest" with Mandy Patinkin.

Jill Nagle is lighting designer, as she has been for many Luna Stage productions over the years, most recently last season’s "The Man in Room 306." Nagle is the resident lighting designer for NJ Rep and also designs for other New Jersey regional theaters, for New Jersey City University, and for New York companies including La Mama Theater, The Westside Arts Theater and the NY Shakespeare Festival.

Costume designer is Deborah J. Caney, who also designed costumes for last season’s "Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue." Her long list of credits includes many productions for the Two River Theatre Company and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, as well as working with Andre DeShields at Cape Playhouse, Working Theatre and the 92nd Street Y.

Montclair resident Steven Q. Brown is sound designer. He runs Steve Brown Sound LLC and worked at Luna as sound board operator for "The Man in Room 306," after successful endeavors at the Institute of Audio Research, National Public Radio, The Henry Street Settlement, and Jazz 88.3 FM. He has collaborated with a diverse range of award-winning musical artists including Vanessa Williams and Ravi Coltrane.

The stage manager for "Fair and Decent" is Paul Whelihan. Technical staff includes Production Manager Artem Yatsunov and Technical Director Scott Blackburn.

Managing Director Hennessy commented, "I think audiences will be impressed at what is being accomplished with this play technically. Tom has written such a great theater piece but technically it is huge. There are 12 playing areas! If you know Luna Stage, you know we are a black box theater. The challenging work that is being done by our design and technical crew is truly amazing."

"Fair and Decent" is the first of three world premieres that Luna has planned for their 16th season in Montclair. "We are thrilled to develop and nurture challenging new works in a community that welcomes such creativity," Director Mandel concluded.