KEY POINTS:
The key real-life players whose emails are a part of the book The Hollow Men will not be going to see their doubles on stage, saying they have little interest in it.
Former National leader Don Brash, Diane Foreman - the woman with whom he was rumoured to have had an affair - and Dr Brash's chief of staff Richard Long have all said they would not go to see the play when it starts at Bats Theatre in Wellington on Wednesday.
The play, based on Nicky Hager's book containing National Party emails in the build-up to the 2005 election, was controversial before rehearsals even started - Diane Foreman asked her lawyers to get a copy of the script, which was refused by writer Dean Parker.
Ms Foreman and Dr Brash have consistently refused to comment on their personal relationship.
The book was widely viewed as the catalyst for Dr Brash's resignation as leader in November 2006.
Asked if he would watch the play, Dr Brash said, "Categorically, no.
"The book on which the play is based is a mix of half-truths and totally false innuendoes, so by definition the play will be similarly based on half-truths and false innuendoes."
Ms Foreman said she would not go to the play and would wait to hear what was in it before commenting further.
Told her appearance had been described as "fleeting", she said, "Fleeting is good.
"That's fine, and the book is full of crap and innuendo and half-truths and lies, so I presume the play is too."
The publicist, Sarah Griffiths, said the play was a look into political spin-doctoring.
"Not the bedroom shenanigans of people whose private lives we don't really want to know about," she said.
"[Ms Foreman's] is a fleeting appearance, fully clothed and not in any sexual innuendo way whatsoever.
"We don't want people to be absolutely fixated on people's private lives that didn't really have anything to do with what happened."
Dr Brash and National Party MP Gerry Brownlee have strongly criticised a $38,000 Creative NZ grant to the production, saying taxpayer money should not be spent on what Dr Brash described as a "flagrantly political play".
The play's director, Jonathon Hendry, said it was a valid form of theatre and part of an important development of the "documentary theatre" genre in New Zealand.
He said legal advice had been obtained on its content.
Dr Brash was also critical of a police investigation into how Hager obtained the emails, saying it had been 12 months since his complaint and little progress had been made.
"Why is it legal for people like Nicky Hager and Dean Parker toprofit from the use of stolen property, emails sent to me while leader ofthe National Party, which is illegalin every other context?"
Richard Long, Don Brash's former chief of staff, said he did not have much interest and would not attend.
Told Will Harris would play his part, he said, "I'd prefer it was Russell Crowe."
Organisers said tickets were selling well for the 91-seat Bats Theatre.
Dr Brash will be played by veteran actor Stephen Papps, who was awarded Best Actor at the New Zealand Film Awards for his role as Firpo in The End of the Golden Weather.
Lyndee-Jane Rutherford will play Mrs Foreman as well as numerous other characters, including former Close Up presenter Susan Wood, Herald journalist Claire Harvey, who wrote about the episode, National MP Katherine Rich, and Ruth Richardson.
The play runs at Wellington's Bats Theatre from September 26 to October 11 before moving to Palmerston North Centrepoint Theatre from October 13 to 27.
