POTUS or BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE. – Written by Selina Fillinger; Directed by Jada Suzanne Dixon. Produced by Curious Theatre Company (1080 Acoma, Denver) through October 13. Tickets available at 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org.
OK – I’m trying to think of a word that describes the picture created by the women of POTUS. Energetic isn’t it – although it certainly takes energy and stamina to perform this script. Energetic just sounds too much like a session at the gym. Chaotic isn’t it either – these ladies were much too organized in their thinking and committed to their task to be considered losing to chaos. Although it does creep in around the edges. You are left with the impression that many of their days are spent in similar activity. This particular day we are watching is just a little more demanding than usual. Frenetic! That’s it – they were frenetic!! Defined by the dictionary as “fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.” A somewhat controlled but spontaneous session of problem-solving described this day.
Another thing to be VERY clear about – this is not a play for children or the easily shocked or offended. Men over 16 will be amazed to discover the way women’s minds work and their ability to tackle a problem as a “committee.” Women over 16 will recognize themselves and their friends solving their own daily problems . . . perhaps not as world-shattering as this group’s problem but problems, nevertheless. Usually involving the men over 16. Leave the young ones at home. They wouldn’t understand the humor and there are parts that might be frightening to them. Seriously.
Yes, we are talking about an American President of the United States in the title of this script. Not any real President representing any real political party. You are left to fill in the blanks for yourself. The cast of characters is meant to represent the seven women whose daily task is to get the President through one day at a time . . . with no bombs going off.
In importance to the President, they are:
1- Harriet, his chief of staff – the one in charge (sort of) who takes her work seriously and has political aspirations of her own. As played by Tara Falk, she is tough, determined, pissed off a lot of the time, but a leader who knows she can’t do it alone.
2- Jean, his press secretary – the one who guards his public persona, takes the words out of his mouth that shouldn’t have been there in the first place and finds herself too often on a sinking ship. C. Kelly Leo comes back to the stage after too long an absence to become this authentic (but terrified) voice of the nation.
3- Stephanie, his secretary – one of the funniest women in Denver theatre gets to take on one of the funniest characters in this play. Leslie O’Carroll as Stephanie is a bulldog guarding the President’s office. At the same time, she is insecure in her role beyond guarding the door and has a daily fight with her fear of failure. A bottle of “medicine” nearly does her in, but she too lives to serve another day. Ms. O’Carroll stuns once again in her willingness to take on a physically demanding role and do it well. No holds barred.
4-Dusty, his “friend” – Dusty is a sort of surprise guest at the White House on this crucial day. While she is known to the President, there are others on staff who are a bit taken aback by her presence. She is, however, willing to put out for the team when she understands the problem and becomes a valued colleague. Rhianna DeVries creates both an airhead and a conscientious citizen in this one character.
5- Bernadette, the Prez’s sister who has been promised a pardon by her brother but jumps the gun a bit by weaseling her way out of prison based on that promise. She is an embarrassment to the Prez and his family and staff as she is an unremittent drug dealer and has “a guy” for everything. Mackenzie Beyer gives her both an unquenchable toughness and a vulnerable sweetness in her relationship with one of the other Magnificent Seven. Her voice is bigger than her heart – or is it?
6- Chris, a journalist – Kristina Fountaine probably has one of the toughest assignments in this production. The character of Chris is a new mother who is tasked with pumping her milk, dealing with a babysitter over the phone, and fighting off the incursion of a male colleague into her valued position at the White House – all the while trying to maintain a professional demeanor. While well known to all, she is not normally on the “inside” of the behind-the-scenes day-to-day. It’s an accident of sorts that she gets drug into this frenetic day. Being somewhat at fault for some of the things that happen, she is more or less forced to go along with the proposed solutions.
7- And, finally, Margaret, FLOTUS, the First Lady is given a grand and glorious portrayal by Natalie Oliver-Atherton in a lovely wardrobe completed by flashy pairs of Crocs (in her effort to appear “earthy”). While designated as the least important to the President, she nevertheless steps up and does what needs to be done – though begrudgingly – to protect him. She has been doing this the longest and knows what needs to be done to save the day. Never mind her personal dignity.
And there you have it. But words cannot adequately express the delight – the fun – the amazing humor these madcap ladies bring to their roles. Of course, the complicated blocking, the setups of comic scenes, the building of a tribe for this production would not have happened without the sure-handed direction of Jada Suzanne Dixon, the director. You can see little bits of Jada’s handprint on each of the ladies, the way they join together to solve a problem they didn’t make, and in the way she builds in a breather for them by occasionally slowing the pace with a moment of sincerity or companionship. It’s as though Jada cloned herself seven times.
Technically, Curious always excels. The movable set designed by Tina Anderson moves easily, creating a variety of rooms in the White House. Brynn Starr Coplan-Sater’s costumes are flattering to the cast, immediately identifying their character and roles in the proceedings. The lighting design by Emily Maddox enhances the chaos and rewards the hard-working cast with a winning tableau at the finale. Stage Manager Rachel Ducat and her crew keep the backstage frenetics under control and never allow the energy to flag.
You don’t want to miss this one.
A WOW factor of 8.75!!