‘Farragut North’
Set during the run-up to a presidential primary, “Farragut North” envisions what can happen when personal ambitions muddy political ones. Chris Pine, right, the rising young star of this summer’s “Star Trek” movie, portrays the hot-shot young press secretary to one candidate. Chris Noth, known for “Sex and the City” and “Law & Order,” plays the campaign manager. The drama is given its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
In the opening scene, members of the campaign team -- portrayed by, from left, Dan Bittner, Chris Pine and Chris Noth -- try to set up a newspaper reporter, played by Mia Barron, to do their dirty work. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
It’s all smiles -- for now -- among the characters played by, from left, Chris Pine, Chris Noth and Mia Barron. The playwright, Beau Willimon, once worked for Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York and for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
An already complicated situation becomes more so when a 19-year-old campaign intern, portrayed by Olivia Thirlby, becomes embroiled with top campaign staffers, including Chris Pine’s 25-year-old press secretary. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Mia Barron, as a newspaper reporter, wants answers from Chris Pine’s press secretary. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Wintertime Des Moines, Iowa, is heated up by a flap involving a presidential campaign team, with key players played by Chris Pine, left, and Chris Noth. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Chris Pine’s injured press secretary submits to the care of Olivia Thirlby’s intern. The A-list cast of rising and established Hollywood talent drew paparazzi and celebrity-watchers to the street outside the Geffen on opening night, June 24. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
A mentor relationship undergoes a stress test as Chris Noth’s campaign chief, left, lays into Chris Pine’s ambitious underling. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
The political skulduggery continues through July 26 at the Geffen Playhouse, where Chris Pine’s press secretary can be found in heated conversation with Isiah Whitlock Jr. as representative of a rival campaign. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
