What I liked
Labella…skillfully directs the cast, which is often required to deliver staccato-like lines written by Kinard, à la “His Gal Friday," and much of its timing falls right on the mark…Most notable is the chemistry within the cast, specifically between the characters of the ensemble… All, separately and combined, play various characters of our beleaguered and jaded White House press corps, archetype and stereotype talking head anchors from “both sides” of opposing cable news channels, a German scientist, sleazy politicians, a lover, and a deity. The ensemble cast does a lot of work here. There are some very slick, quick changes where wig-slips and wardrobe adjustments are made to good comic effect, with lighting and projections…whose technical effects create the landscape that is Lincoln’s “new world.” Also…some subtle physical comedy reminiscent of the brilliant Peggy Cass’s "Agnes Gooch" of Auntie Mame (1958.) As well is her character that’s the typification of every blond female news anchor, on a certain news channel of a conservative bent, that often seems determined to avoid actual reporting.
What I didn't like
The play only slows a bit when Hillary-esque character, Mallory Britton, played by Janet Chung Chamberlain, and Tess, do a bit of reflecting on “the Presidency that should have been.”
My overall impression
…Mirroring the debacle that was the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, this pointed satire asks a pretty good “What if" on a number of contemporary political, social, racial and LGBT issues in the aftermath of 2016–a blame for which we must both sling and shoulder–and all the while managing to be pretty damn funny… (For more see article link attached.)
