Warning: These seven marvelous actors in the all female cast, are not your nice Aunt Sara. Wild and untamed, they’re women without borders. Stepping out and away from the well-behaved and polite, they gleefully leave stereotypes of expected female behavior far behind. Jennifer Childs, artistic producing director of 1812 Productions, does a splendid job of directing this meticulously timed performance.
POTUS, Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep him Alive, takes place behind the scenes at a chaotic White House, where what’s done or said by the hyper-talented actors cannot be considered in any way civilized. The show’s opening sets the tone. It’s loud, frantic, manic, and even charming while also repetitious and overly long. The agendas and responsibilities of these position-driven women in the White House inner circle clash in a non-stop dance of damn funny acidic verbiage and high-energy activity.
All is done in a futile attempt to keep the American electorate believing that the highest official in the land is a sober and responsible individual. And to protect the public from learning the true nature of the man who is a buffoon. But try as they might, the women cannot contain the out of control ego of the President, who is hell-bent on his self-destructive path.
You may ask, “Is this play anti-Trump?” Although a prime example of executive excess in every self-indulgent direction, his name is never mentioned. Presidential activity that needs to be sanitized and rationalized falls into the overworked hands of very busy and plain spoken women. (One of whom says to the other, “You have the handwriting of a drunk baby.”)
POTUS, a madcap, antic, and comic rampage has more elements than the periodic table. And just when you think the jam-packed plot can’t deal with more confusion and chaos, new problems are loaded aboard.
[Arden Theatre, 40 N. 2nd Street] September 12-October 13, 2024; ardentheatre.org
Playwright: Selina Fillinger
Cast:
Kimberly Gilbert (Bernadette)
Jessica Johnson (Chris)
Rachel Leslie (Margaret)
Alia Munsch (Dusty)
Suzanne O’Donnell (Stephanie)
Karen Peakes (Jean)
Susan Riley Stevens (Harriet)
Director: Jennifer Childs
Assistant Director: Megan Bellwoar
Scenic Designer: Colin McIlvaine
Lighting Designer: Krista Smith
Costume Designer: Ariel Wang
Sound Designer: Elizabeth Atkinson
Fight Choreographer/Intimacy: Eli Lynn
Stage Manager: Tom Shotkin