You have to give credit to a show with the guts to start off with the one word hated by the majority of the population. No, not “moist”; something much worse. As soon as the lights come up, the first word is … nothing I can say here, but it rhymes with blunt. Obviously, the audience’s attention is grabbed immediately.
If you want to enjoy the fantasy of seven brilliant, foul-mouthed women trying to cover up the mistakes of one bumbling president, Theater West End has you covered with POTUS. Selina Fillinger’s 2022 Tony Award-nominated show does not pull any punches; instead, it gives them to you right in your funny bone, and the production now running in Sanford does not shy away from rubbing the subject matter right in the audience’s face. It’s a fast-paced broad comedy focusing on the farce that some people think has become of American politics.
There is no single standout in the ensemble cast — Kelly Wills, Ame Livingston, Anneliese Moon, Lauren Muller, Jade Jones, Rebekah Lane and Sarah Lockard work together, and feed off each other, with the grace of a group of real-life friends in crisis. They keep the fast-paced dialogue engaging, similar to a certain old television show set in the West Wing, except full of much more swearing and campy fun. The constant frenzy is almost exhausting to watch, but these women pull it off.
Add to that the whimsical set by scenic designer (and show director) Tara Kromer. The backdrop of an overly masculine presidential office is both familiar and a bit too authentic with its “gold” trim. Maria Tew’s costume work is on point, showing how uncomfortable it can be to be a woman in the background of a man’s world. Together, they bring a touch of covert humor to the tongue-in-cheek political satire.
The script is full of tropes, including stereotypes of women that have been used forever. You have the smart one, the ditz, the butch one, the pretty girl, etc. All seven women are trying to fix problems that they did not cause in an almost reductive manner: blow-up toys, breast milk pumps hanging off boobs, a woman in pool flotation devices. Is it marginalization, or humor, or both? These performers make it come together as a team, and somehow make it work practically seamlessly, with a touch of obnoxious charm.
The jokes come at you at a rapid pace, and each one is a little dirtier and more disturbing than the one before, although the situation still comes off as realistic. Unfortunately, I can not tell you my favorite quotes because the comedy of this show is, in a word, vulgar — and delightfully so. Lines like “Your name is an adjective; don’t tell me what to do” and “Arch your boobs more, so that you look important” made me do a spit-take, and those were the clean(ish) ones.
To be honest, this is a crassly comedic look at politics, (mostly) without really taking sides. It’s an over-the-top parody of the absurdity of government that most of us try to avoid thinking about living in lately, as well as an excellent portrayal of how when women come together, they can get stuff done … and maybe just save democracy. POTUS, you had me at c**t, and you made the audience know that we aren’t the only ones scared and confused in this divisive time.
POTUS (Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive): Various days/times through Sunday, May 17; Theater West End, 115 W. First St., Sanford; 407-548-6285; theaterwestend.com; $46.
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