In retrospect, it was one of the greatest TV confrontations of all time. As Frost/Nixon reminds us, five prime-time programs were distilled from nearly 29 hours of one-on-one interviews of the disgraced former President, Richard M. Nixon, conducted - and financed - by British talk-show host David Frost. Nixon was a master of political resurrections, and Frost was a journalistic lightweight whose syndicated show had recently been cancelled (surely no match for Tricky Dick as 45 million viewers tuned in to the first broadcast).

Peter Morgan's play, staged by Carolina Actors Studio Theatre, takes us behind the scenes to show us how this little David thwarted a political Goliath's scheme to rewrite history and restore his reputation. Hank West and Lamar Wilson star as the Ali/Frazier antagonists of the high-stakes interviews, with Tom Ollis and Dink Nolen as their prime handlers, Jim Reston and "Swifty" Lazar. $18-$28. Jan. 5, 8 p.m.; Jan. 10-12, 8 p.m.; Jan. 13, 2:30 p.m.; Jan. 17-19, 8 p.m.; Jan. 20, 2:30 p.m.; Jan. 24-26, 8 p.m.; Jan. 27, 2:30 p.m. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre, 2424 N. Davidson St. 704-455-8542. www.nccast.com.