Based on true events

A tongue-in-cheek reimagining of the fateful meeting between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev takes center stage in this Goodman premiere by Cuban-American playwright Rogelio Martinez. Commonly known as the "Odd Couple" of international politics, the two vastly different leaders shared a common love of pop culture and classic Hollywood movies - something that they were keen to discuss at length, despite the best efforts of their harangued aides to keep things on track. Because what is a little politics when you can espouse your love of culture with your supposed enemy?

Tearing down the wall

The play is based upon the real-life visit by Reagan and the First Lady to West Germany in 1987, despite huge protests against an American presence. There, he made the controversial and now iconic speech, "Tear down the wall", perhaps presciently, given the Fall just two years later. Causing strife throughout Reagan's administation, several senior staffers and aides had advised him against against using the phrase, believing that the thawing tensions between the two superpowers would be compromised if it embarrassed Gorbachev. But the two leaders took plenty of time out from proceedings, with their respective wives even conducting their own negotiations over tea and tango away from the cameras.