Fringe Festival 2008
They Report, You Decide
Cast and creators of “The Deciders” give their all
to an energetic comedy musical sending up the Bush Administration and
the Iraq War, but have a few holes in their satiric assault.
Paul
Sadlik as Saddam Hussein. “The Deciders,” in
the 12th annual Fringe Festival in New York, a comedy musical with a few
earnest or dramatic turns thrown in, was co-written by Casey Sheehan’s
sister, Carly (Cindy Sheehan’s daughter), which isn’t touted right away
in the show’s advertising.
The show takes some odd turns in its plotting at points to seek the
laughs it does have -- like a conceit about George Bush wanting to
re-install Saddam Hussein to get him out of the mess he made of Iraq; or
another sub-plot supposing that the real Saddam died in 1999 of cancer
and in his stead is one of his former doubles, who is really more of a
writer and poet.
On realizing that the most earnest songs sung by the Cindy Sheehan
character (played by Amber Carson), like “A Nation Rocked To Sleep,”
with lines like “have you heard the sound of a mother crying?” are
actually written by her own daughter, you feel like excusing their
melodrama. But by the third such song (in a show that’s just over one
hour), it does get a little repetitive.
There are a few funny moments in “The Deciders” that have the sort of
satiric edge you find yourself wishing this show had throughout, such as
John Stillwaggon as Dick Cheney singing “there’s money to be made/with
the gun and the blade;” Paul Sadlik’s performance as Saddam Hussein
throughout, especially in a couple songs showcasing him; and the pairing
of Erik Hogan, in a credible Bush impersonation, with Carla Euphrates
Kelly as Condi Rice, in a downright sexy, naughty number called “Miss
Information.” Also, Stillwaggon as Cheney is quite funny throughout the
show.
The comedy of “The Deciders” is aimed squarely at a mainstream Broadway
audience, but to make it there probably could use some additional
satirical scenes and a cutting back on some of the more lecture-like
dramatic songs. Its creators might do well to research Tim Robbins’ Iraq
war satirical play “Embedded” for a few pointers on how to do this. “The
Deciders” has some entertainment value to it, but not all of it is cream
rising to the top. |