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CP27864082 — FILE - This Sept, 6, 1978 handout file photo provided by the White House shows the principals in the Middle East Summit, from left, Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat, President Jimmy Carter, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, meeting for the first time at Camp David, Md. Thirty-six years after President Jimmy Carter made peace between Egypt and Israel, “Camp David” is now both history and theater. Carter and his wife Rosalynn returned to Washington on Thursday night to open a new play commissioned by Arena Stage. It retraces the 13 days of tense negotiations in 1978. By the time the lights came up, the former president had tears in his eyes and was soon hugging actor Richard Thomas who played him on stage. (AP Photo, File)

President Jimmy Carter helps open new play ‘Camp David’ retracing peace accord of 1978

April 04 2014 02:48 AM

WASHINGTON – Thirty-six years after President Jimmy Carter made peace between Egypt and Israel, “Camp David” is now both history and theatre.

Carter and his wife Rosalynn returned to Washington on Thursday night to open a new play commissioned by Arena Stage. It retraces the 13 days of tense negotiations in 1978. By the time the lights came up, the former president had tears in his eyes and was soon hugging actor Richard Thomas who played him on stage.

While a story of the remarkable peace accord may at first sound like theatre for wonks, the drama of peace negotiations made for a compelling story that’s raw with emotion, real and perhaps ever relevant to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“Camp David” runs through May 4 in Washington.

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