Theater Review: 'POTUS' at WestRep Stage at WestConn

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member Nancy Sasso Janis

WestRep Stage at Western Connecticut State University (WestConn) performed a biting political satire entitled “POTUS or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.” This farce is written by Selina Fillinger, and the university-aged performers are directed (and essentially choreographed) by Donna Baldwin-Bradby. Two casts performed May 1-10 on the main stage at the VPAC on the West Side Campus.

Cast House performed at the Saturday matinee on closing weekend and Cast Senate covered the performance on Mothers’ Day.

“POTUS” centers around an invented PR nightmare for the (fictitious) White House while seven women try to keep the (unnamed and unseen) President out of trouble. Sadly, the premise does seem as unbelievable as it might have in the past.

The Dramaturgy Note written by Co-dramaturg Esther Goldstein, describes this work as a “savage contemporary political satire” that highlights “the problematic nature of the actions of many men–and some women–in American politics who energize patriarchal leadership, even as women today have more power–seemingly–in that patriarchal system.”

The co-dramaturg goes on to prove her point with the dubious claims of the current administration that they enforce policy that “better” the experience of women, expounding on the absurdity of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, the refusal of the (now former) attorney general to listen to the criminal charges against her boss, and the public shaming of women in positions of power.

This play “enacts a world in which women do have something to say–and not just about their own empowerment…The women of ‘POTUS’ aren’t expendable; in fact, the President needs them desperately, whether he knows it or not.” They work “hard to save the President from his poor political and rhetorical choices” and hilarity ensues, although the problematic utterance that sets off the firestorm at the heart of Fillinger’s ferociously funny satire is so upsettingly familiar” in the current administration. One of Dusty’s lines about reproductive rights drew applause at the matinee, as it did on Broadway.

“POTUS” opened on Broadway on April 27, 2022 at the Shubert Theatre. The original Broadway production was directed by Susan Stroman and starred Lilli Cooper as Chris, Lea DeLaria as Bernadette, Rachel Dratch a sStephanie, Julianne Hough of “Dancing with the Stars as Dusty, Suzy Nakamura as Jean, Julie White as Chief of Staff Harriet, and Vanessa Williams as the First Lady Margaret.

Cast House was made up of seven talented performers who brought energy to the seven women who do their best to back up the unseen President of the United States as best they can, given the state of the union. They were at their best when all seven of them worked together on the stage and when they were chasing each other through the aisles interacting with the audience. There is plenty of crazy stuff in this script and it gives the female-presenting actors the opportunity to show off their skill in physical comedy.

Crowley played the Chief of Staff named Harriet. The actor is credited as Julia Crowley (“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “The Donkey Show,” “Angels in America Part 2”) in the online bio section and is a BFA Acting major from Southington. Crowley’s counterpart in the Senate Cast was Pamela Troncoso.

Isabella Anzolletti played the harried Press Secretary. She shared the role with Amanda Seery.

Lindsay Mae was a delight in the role of Stephanie, a mousy secretary to the President in a long cardigan. The actress shared the role with Grace Henderson.

Kate McPadden, a BFA major from Shelton who was a swing in “American Psycho,” played the tall, pregnant young woman who shows up “for the position.” McPadden shared the role with Jocelyn Titus in the Senate Cast.

Jillian Callan, a BFA Acting major from eastern CT, played Bernadette, the baby sister of the President who needs a pardon and has a romantic history with Jean. Callan shared the role with Jordyn Javaruski.

Nyelle Gogarty, a BFA Musical Theatre major from Norwalk, took on the role of Chris, a member of the press who is a divorced, nursing mother who is in search of a scoop. Gabrielle Tapper played Chris with the other cast.

Mae Jones, a BFA major from Manchester, appeared as the lovely FLOTUS, the wife of the unseen President who has clearly been unfaithful to her. Bella Matos shared this role.

“Why isn’t she President?” - a line repeated by various characters

The script contains a lot of foul language. In fact, the action unfolds as a result of a crass adjective used by the President. There was a loud girl power playlist that filled in the spaces between the comedic chaos that takes place in this White House. The set crew/Secret Service agents were dressed in all black and sported headsets as they moved around the White House furniture for the set changes. A team of agents were also posted at the doors to the theater.

I enjoyed the hilarious antics of these powerful women working in the White House and also appreciated the feminist perspective of the playwright’s rapid-fire dialogue. This was a highly-choreographed farce brought to chaotic life by the talented WestConn students.

There were seven doors in the set for this farce that was designed by Danielle DeLaFuente. These White House offices were tastefully decorated in traditional tones. A symbol with an eagle was projected on the set at appropriate times and there were other projections of stars that complimented the great lighting design by Cheyenne Sykes.

Costume Designer Chanelle Jaime-Guzman put the staff members in contemporary office garb, the First Lady in outfits befitting her role and Dusty in a short skirt and cowboy boots that allowed her to dance. Tom Swetz was the show’s technical director, Morgan Forte the production stage manager and Oliver Wason was production manager. Justin P. Cowan is WestRep’s producing artistic director. The show fit into a tight 110 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.