Reviews: 4
The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special
Original Musical Comedy Parodies First Family in “Yuge” Way
What if the First Family put on a live musical TV special – just like the Brady Bunch – starring Ice Princess Ivanka, her numbnut brothers, a still-not-caring Melania, and a host of ex’s and deplorables.
Salles has staged the show as a TV taping and it works very well. The foursome all display comic chops as well as strong singing voices, most especially St. Lou whose soaring soprano could give some Broadway divas pause.
After nine performances last year in Los Angeles and New York, the Trump Family Special returns with more laughter and absurdity that all you can do is cradle your kidneys for fear it will explode from hearty laughter...
Let’s hope that this talented group of entertainers will return and delight those who missed it this time around.
This political satire with book and lyrics by Daniel Salles with music and additional lyrics by Tory Hymans & Lisa St. Lou is very witty and is just as cocky in attitude as the real Donald (or make that “The Donald”) could muster up! With a seventy minute running time, the cast of four (also playing additional roles) give this piece its real trump card. (Pun indented!) With a roster of fourteen song numbers performed by the cast with choreography by Benji Schwimmer and stage direction by Daniel Salles, this show deserves a 3rd annual treatment!
Over the years at Fringe, I’ve seen numerous shows dealing with Trump. These have ranged from the totally warped Zombie Clown Trump, the Star-Trek mashup Trump in Space, and the quite good The Dangerous Cures of Dr. B, which uses the demagogue John Brinkley as an analogue for the pedagogy of Donald Trump. The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special does a great job of skewering the first family, their foibles and personalities, and how Trump relates to them. But does it make a strong cases or have a deeper meaning? Does it provide a particular insight into Donald Trump, his machinations, or the motivation behind his forms of evil. No. You get more of that from Planet Money. The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special is entertaining, but ultimately light on substance — reflecting perfectly the first family and the absence of substance and depth therein.
Salles has staged the show as a TV taping and it works very well. The foursome all display comic chops as well as strong singing voices, most especially St. Lou whose soaring soprano could give some Broadway divas pause.
After nine performances last year in Los Angeles and New York, the Trump Family Special returns with more laughter and absurdity that all you can do is cradle your kidneys for fear it will explode from hearty laughter...
Let’s hope that this talented group of entertainers will return and delight those who missed it this time around.
This political satire with book and lyrics by Daniel Salles with music and additional lyrics by Tory Hymans & Lisa St. Lou is very witty and is just as cocky in attitude as the real Donald (or make that “The Donald”) could muster up! With a seventy minute running time, the cast of four (also playing additional roles) give this piece its real trump card. (Pun indented!) With a roster of fourteen song numbers performed by the cast with choreography by Benji Schwimmer and stage direction by Daniel Salles, this show deserves a 3rd annual treatment!
Over the years at Fringe, I’ve seen numerous shows dealing with Trump. These have ranged from the totally warped Zombie Clown Trump, the Star-Trek mashup Trump in Space, and the quite good The Dangerous Cures of Dr. B, which uses the demagogue John Brinkley as an analogue for the pedagogy of Donald Trump. The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special does a great job of skewering the first family, their foibles and personalities, and how Trump relates to them. But does it make a strong cases or have a deeper meaning? Does it provide a particular insight into Donald Trump, his machinations, or the motivation behind his forms of evil. No. You get more of that from Planet Money. The 2nd Annual Trump Family Special is entertaining, but ultimately light on substance — reflecting perfectly the first family and the absence of substance and depth therein.
