"Farragut North," Beau Willimon's tense play about a young political operative named Stephen and his involvement in the competing campaigns of two office seekers, is full of inside-baseball wonk talk, late-night deals, betrayals, secrets, sleaze and Faustian bargains - in other words, stuff that would have seemed fascinating up until last November.

New York's Atlantic Theater Company did the smart thing, presenting the world premiere of "Farragut North" just before the 2008 Presidential election.

But why do it now?

"I'm interested in backroom politics, and I think a lot of other people are, too," said Chris Noth, who will reprise the role of Paul, an aging but whip-smart campaign manager, for the play's West Coast debut next week at the Geffen Playhouse. "I think this is an exceptionally skilled portrayal of that world."

The story's rock-solid believability comes directly from Willimon's past, Noth said. The playwright served on campaigns for Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bill Bradley and most recently, Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. He knows the tricky landscape of political campaigns intimately.

"Obviously, Beau understands this world so well, because all the nuances and details are so convincing," Noth said. "People love to be invited into an environment where they can get a chance to look at the inner workings: What goes on behind the scenes in an election; how cops actually talk about a case. There's a language, a character of the language, a communication that is distinct in each case. People like to be Peeping Toms."

On a deeper level, Noth says, the play is about what happens to people who place too much importance on their careers and ambitions.

"It's honorable to pursue the goals these characters are pursuing. But if all you are is where you want to get to in your career, then what's left? Can love or family find room in this atmosphere? Especially in American culture, I think many people have decided that (pursuing a career over all else) is the only way."

Within Paul's cutthroat world, every character operates by his or her own moral code, Noth said.

"There are certain points where we draw the line. For my character it's loyalty. In politics, that's the only currency you can count on. With Stephen, it's something else."

Despite Paul's age - he's roughly three decades older than Stephen - Noth says his character possesses something the younger politico lacks: idealism.

"Paul says that you don't get into this business if you're a pessimist. He's a warrior and he's seen it all, but his goals are idealistic. If he'd been old enough, he would have worked on the Bobby Kennedy campaign."

'NEW YORKERS CAN BE SNOBBY'

Most people know Noth, 54, from his two popular television roles - Carrie's elusive but ultimately ideal boyfriend, Mr. Big, on the HBO series "Sex and the City" and detective Mike Logan on "Law and Order: Criminal Intent."

But the Yale-trained actor is a seasoned theater performer. After years of performing regionally and Off-Broadway, he received a Theatre World award for his 2001 Broadway debut in Gore Vidal's play "The Best Man." "Theater was and remains very important to me," the actor said.

Noth recently shifted from New York to Los Angeles, and he doesn't deny the move was made to capitalize on his big- and small-screen successes. So far, he has no regrets about the decision.

"Now that I'm getting to know L.A. better, I don't miss New York as much as I thought I would. As long as I can take quick forays back to the East Coast I'll be fine."

But Noth says he's not going back east to scratch his theater itch. He finds theater in Southern California surprisingly vibrant.

"New Yorkers can be snobby, but there's an excellent theater scene here. And it attracts some very good people."

At that point in the interview, Chris Pine walked into the room. The 28-year-old actor, who plays Stephen and appeared two years ago at the Geffen in a production of Neil Labute's "Fat Pig," is a lot more in demand these days as a result of his much-praised portrayal of the young James T. Kirk in the just-released big-screen blockbuster "Star Trek."

"This guy is tremendous," Noth said of Pine. "He's really good at it; brings all kinds of dimensions to the role. He was born to be onstage."

And if he'd remained in New York, Noth said, "I'd never know that. I'd be like a lot of my friends there, not knowing about all the theater talent out here."