What’s really going on behind the closed doors of the White House? Drama, drama, drama.
No wonder that more and more stories from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. belong to the stage, television and cinema. Pacific Repertory Theatre reopened its long-under-renovation Golden Bough Playhouse with a contemporary production by a young playwright, Selina Fillinger, titled POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. It’s a political satire on the world of American politics where big-ego politicians (typically men) function only with support of anonymous women, whose first job is to hide their wisdom from the boss.
Bygone is the The West Wing era of politicians as devoted public servants. Now is the time of Vice (2018), Scandal (2012), White House Plumbers (2023), and – most importantly – Veep (2012). Sometimes it is so entertaining that political actors steal the show, as seen with Clinton and enhanced by Trump – sex, lies and corruption.
With such a reality, no wonder, POTUS is a 90-minute session of cursing. That said, this White House play easily entertains the audience. The laughter comes often and with gusto.
The all-woman cast does a wonderful job, inhabiting seven very different characters and making them all lead roles. Malinda DeRouen (Margaret, the president’s wife) proves one more time that her range is boundless. PacRep veteran Julie Hughett is truly impressive in her role as Chief of Staff Harriett, determined to project power but surprisingly vulnerable at times.
In one sense, the seven women must be caricatures: silly bimbo Dusty (Michelle Vallentyne) does anal play with the president; timid secretary Stephanie (Katie O’Bryon Champlin) is abused by other women. There is the First Lady who is being cheated on, and a ruthless journalist (Cambria Square) who relies on spying. The lineup includes two flavors of lesbian – a clingy one (MJ Parker) and a butch one (Niki Moon).
Well directed by Nina Capriola, with impressive set design by Patrick McEvoy, the production is steeped in feminist power songs, from “I Am Woman (Hear Me Roar)” to current pieces by Beyoncé. As a bonus, the songs are used as satire, too.
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive runs 7:30pm Thu-Sat, 2pm Sun, until Sept. 29. Golden Bough Playhouse, Carmel. $16-$43. 622-0100, pacrep.org
(1) comment
😣 Correction: your writer made an incorrect assumption when she wrote "the all woman cast of local actors". Two of the seven-member ensemble are not local, but are guest artists who have traveled here specifically to appear in the production. But, why is that even important in a theatrical review? As any theatre writer should know, many – many – actors are true nomads. And what a weird mistake to make. So easily researched or fact-checked. Actor bios are right there in your writer's program.
And summarizing/minimizing this Tony nominated farce as "a 90-minute session of cursing" does a great disservice to the playwright, the director, and the performers. Surely, there's more to it than that?!?
Editors? Anyone? Bueller?[crying][sad]
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