ARTS . Theater Review

Saturday Night Livelier

This Is the Week That Is: The Election Special


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Published: Oct 21, 2008

A larger stage and bigger audience haven't hurt the third (and reportedly last — say it ain't so!) edition of 1812 Productions' This Is the Week That Is: The Election Special. If anything, the Jennifer Childs-conceived, ensemble-written evening of sketches, songs and pseudo-news reports feels more intimate with louder crowd reactions, and Jorge Cousineau's surprisingly active and clever video pieces make him this flying circus's Terry Gilliam.

We all know that politics practically begs for satirical skewering, but TITWTI provides local spin and a polished, intelligent gleam. TITWTI also updates nightly, so Saturday's show referenced Joe the Plumber, Sarah Palin's SNL appearance later that night and other up-to-the-minute material, without repeating everyone else's jokes. Consider their unique and revealing look at the candidates through their prom music, the surprisingly insightful analysis of their favorite hand gestures or the illuminating survey of candidates' theme songs.

TITWTI lampoons the candidates equally; a perceived tilt toward Obama stems more from the Republican ticket providing easier targets to mock than from bias. Their satire strains to show Obama/Biden as perhaps too good to be true, which isn't nearly as funny as confirming that McCain/Palin are as bad as they seem. Portrayals are adequate: Childs gets Palin's gosh-wow cadence and Steven Wright captures Obama's measured tones, but Tony Braithwaite's Biden (and George W. Bush) and Anthony Lawton's McCain are more about lurid wigs than character. No matter: We get the point, and they manage their many changes well in a show that's much more "live" (and lively) than SNL.

Familiar bits from years past return: My favorite, Dave Jadico's man-on-the-street interview, hilariously mistakes people in the lobby for lobbyists, and Childs bravely takes audience questions as Patsy, who waxes wise from her South Philly stoop (wait'll you hear why Palin is like a guinea pig). Braithwaite hilariously parodies sonorous anchors, ad-libbing adroitly.

A full-cast rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" approximates America's most spiritual (nondenominational) group experience: the rousing rock-song finale. Was it subtle satire or sincere inspiration? After two hours of laughter, I left thinking — which I suspect means "mission accomplished."

(m_cofta@citypaper.net)

This Is the Week That Is: The Election Special | Through Nov. 2, 1812 Productions at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St., 215-592-9560, 1812productions.org