Laurence Luckinbill

This is the graphic novel adaptation of Teddy Tonight!, a one-act show written and performed by Laurence Luckinbill, currently available to view at https://laurenceluckinbill.com/index.php or https://youtu.be/O63J4ERzBrI. Apparently, he's done several other shows where he portrays a historical figure who talks about his life, including Clarence Darrow, Ernest Hemingway, and Lyndon Baines Johnson. Everybody needs a hobby, I suppose.

The concept here is that Theodore Roosevelt is giving a speech in July 1918 on the very day he has learned the fate of his son, Quentin, who has been missing in action for two weeks after being shot down in a dogfight. The ex-president reflects on his life, his credos, and his feelings about the price of war.

Since it is all from Roosevelt's perspective it comes off as very self-aggrandizing and brushes past points that make him a problematic figure in history.

I sampled the video of the live performance, and the transition to graphic novel format improves on that by presenting the reader with actual illustrations from Roosevelt's life instead of an actor sitting or standing at various positions on a fairly sparse stage. On the other hand, the emotional weight Luckinbill is able to give to the monolgue at key moments doesn't always translate here, leaving the book feeling a bit flat and a little dull.

I doubt I'll ever watch the show in full, based on what I've seen so far.… (more)