This afternoon I was treated to free theatre by my brother, Michael. Bless his heart, without him the only culture I’d get would be PS3 gaming blogs for cheat codes.
He’s in “Stuff Happens” at the Royal Alexander Theatre, playing George Bush in a play that is…
a dramatic speculation, authenticated from multiple real-life sources, on the behind-closed-door proceedings that have shaped recent world events
When we had dinner earlier in the week we talked about the play and how it was coming along but he failed to mention he was playing GWB. As the play started and we were introduced to the political figures that shaped world politics during 9/11, my brother rose to speak and a ridiculously frank Texan accent came pouring out. Being his brother and have listened to countless jokes and impressions from him all my life, I couldn’t tell if he was pulling it off. However I was very excited. As far back as I can remember, he is cast as the slovenly neurotic schlep that everyone falls for and I think this was his second political figure he’s ever played (he played an advisor in Frost/Nixon), certainly the most colourful/famous. The laughs he garnished certainly was indication the audience was buying it. The woman in front of me turned to her husband and made some remark, her finger stabbing at the stage at my brother. I think he did well.
In fact the entire cast did really well. The play pulls from actual quotes and situations and relives the insanity of a world wanting and resisting going to war after America’s greatest attack on it’s soil. There were curious dramatic tensions (a suggested budding romance between Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice?) and fly-on-the-wall imaging of back room conversations that were interesting to see but would probably make a Right Winger stand up and yell “THAT NEVER HAPPENED!!”, however they never crossed the line into an overt Liberal love-orgy. I would hope that if it ever plays in the US that many people go see it in “Those who forget the past are condemned to relive it” kind of way. But I think is pretty doubtful, unless Michael Moore produces it – SharkBoy’s comment after was “I doubt they could stand it”
The kick in the gut line says it all: “After 9/11 America became stupid”
PS: The whole reason I wrote this was to say I met my brother’s fiance. Hello Morwyn!!
2 thoughts on “Meeting the In-Laws”
For me, the best line was when Powell is having his big moment with Bush and he goes on about the weapons of mass destruction and the fact that none have been found and the press keeps asking how does Bush know for sure they have some and Powell goes: “They want to know how we know there are weapons of mass destruction. We know because we still have the receipts!”
Yer brother’s a genius. I saw Drawer Boy performed at Steppenwolf in Chicago, with John Mahoney. It was like watching Steinbeck, only different. I’ve never seen Michael act, but I wish he’d write more…I found Drawer Boy powerful and moving.