“The Lifespan of a Fact” playing at the Fountain Theatre explores a journalist’s battle between mere “facts” and the larger “truth” in a well-told story.
When we find that Fox News anchors knew for months that they were lying through their teeth about Donald Trump’s failed re-election bid—and more than a few politicians today seem to relish telling one baldfaced lie after another—the time couldn’t be better for “Lifespan of a Fact,” now playing at L.A.’s Fountain Theatre through April 2nd.
The splendidly acted “Lifespan” follows the exploits of a recent Harvard grad assigned the scut work of fact checking a fascinating essay written by a award-winning—though possibly long in the tooth—essayist. Between them sits the anxious editor of a highbrow New York magazine, who badly needs a really good read to stave off an internet that's rapidly draining away her readers and advertisers.
Besides an investigation of journalistic practices and norms, “Lifespan” is also a thought-provoking study in personalities. On one hand, you have the young fact checker obsessing over every single detail—“It’s 34 strip clubs in Las Vegas, not 31”—and the “artiste” on the other hand who’s swept up in his own grand visions of a larger "truth." Between them is the born mediator, trying to bring the two men together long enough to get the magazine-saving story to the magazine's printing plant in Indiana.
The play put Sharon in mind of Jayson Blair, who manufactured one made-up story after another in the early 2000’s for the New York Times. Dick recalled Janet Cooke, recruited to diversify the Washington Post staff in 1980, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Jimmy’s World” about a third-generation heroin addict in a poor Black neighborhood—but who unfortunately only existed in Cooke’s head.
Two Hollywood Progressive writers praised “Lifespan” with these detailed reviews.
- “The Lifespan of a Fact” Explores Tru-ish Journalism, by Eric A. Gordon
- Hold the Presses! Just the Facts, Ma’am, Just the Facts, by Ed Rampell
We hope you enjoy our discussion. We’d certainly welcome your comments.
The Lifespan of a Fact runs through April 2, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:00 p.m.; and Mondays at 8:00 p.m. (dark Monday, March 13) at The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles CA 90029
