Award-winning actor-playwright Richard Vergette returns to Edinburgh Fringe with a revised version of his play Born in the USA (Leaving Vietnam), which he took to the festival last year.
In the play, Donal Trump’s populist slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ appeals to disillusioned war veteran Jimmy in rustbelt Michigan but his new-found politics threaten to tear his family apart – until an unexpected visit leads to a profound emotional reconciliation.
Q&A with Richard Vergette
How does it feel to be returning to Edinburgh Fringe?
It feels slightly surreal since it’s my 40th anniversary since my first fringe show as an undergraduate. I can’t believe that I’m this old! But I’m thrilled to be back and with a show I have total confidence in and which could not be more timely.
What can you tell us about your show and its inspiration?
The show is inspired by the modern political context of both America but other western democracies too that have been subjected to the toxic force of populism. initially the play was inspired by the Ken Burns Documentary, The Vietnam War. This massive 10 part series was brutal, unrelenting but brilliant journalism. In particular I was struck with the palpable anger of some of the veterans. Their sense of betrayal, isolation and dislocation seemed to be echoed by the Make America Great Again campaign of Trump. In the UK, many of the impoverished and abandoned communities of the North of England (including the one where I live) voted to leave the EU.
Born in the USA tells the story of Jimmy Vandenberg, a Michigan car worker who serves in Vietnam whilst still only a teenager. He comes home to a country more embarrassed by his service than grateful. His bitterness and disillusionment lead him to make choices that drives a wedge between him and his wife which he tries to resolve.
How do you think audiences will react to the show?
The show is a revision of the show we brought to the Fringe in 2022. Audiences were really moved by the show. Although it has a polemic it’s a very human story of a basically good man who makes choices we don’t always agree with.
How have you been preparing for the festival?
Well at 61 I need to be physically fit to perform an hour-long one-man show every day for a month! So I cycle and swim fairly regularly and I’ve made a supreme effort to get my weight down! I have re-written some sections of the show to reflect contemporary events and to work on sections I felt merited it.
Will you get a chance to enjoy the rest of the festival?
Hopefully so. I always enjoy the experience of seeing work by others and, of course, when you’ve been performing as long as I have, you make good friends with others who will also be in Edinburgh with their work. I’m looking forward to seeing Richard Stott’s new show and Lubna Kerr’s new show, Chatterbox.
Do you have any Fringe anecdotes you can share with us?
During the Fringe of 2022, an elderly American man came up to me after the show. He thrust out his hand, shook mine and introduced himself. Then he asked me the question “How come you got it right, you’re a Brit!?” It turned out that the man had been an airman during the Vietnam war. On another occasion I met an elderly lady whose first husband had died from the effects of Agent Orange (a toxic pollutant that the American dropped on the jungle of Vietnam to destroy the NVA’s cover. She was clearly very emotional but when we parted she held out her hand to me and said “thank you for your service.”
Born in the USA (Leaving Vietnam) is at C ARTS from 31 July to 25 August
