Has this election year been a trial for you? The biting humor of satire is one way to relieve the tension.
What better way to escape reality for a couple of hours than viewing a David Mamet political commentary on the world of presidential elections.
In the play “November,” currently playing at Chula Vista’s community OnStage Playhouse theater, a politically incorrect (and much disliked) president is in the death throes of his re-election campaign. He attempts to raise money through selling Thanksgiving turkey pardons. If the raucous laughter of many of the audience members is a signal, this play is worth the viewing, before or after our own surreal election.
All the actors achieve the perfect pitch for this parody. Greg McAfee provides us with a president running for re-election who is ineffective, outrageous and somehow endearing. His stiff-upper-lipped and beleaguered chief of staff throws out some of the funnier lines. The turkey representative, the president’s speech writer, and a Native American chief, played by James E. Steinburg, Rhiannon McAfee, and Charley Miller, all present unique characters.
We share their pain of dealing with the president. The pacing is spot-on with never a slow moment, thanks to director Steve Murdock. All of the production crew, including producer Jennifer McKenna, deserves recognition for the realistic set of the president’s office.
One of the audience members described the satire as, “Lively and informative; in light of what we’re going through now, it was perfect.”
Amazingly, many of the sources of humor in the play have come to pass in the last few years. Fair warning: the production is not for the faint of heart regarding adult language and politically incorrect comments, as that is all part of Mamet’s intrepid style.
The show runs through Nov. 19. Pay in advance online tickets are $17 (student/senior/military) and $20 (general admission), with group rates available. Pay-at-the-door prices are $20 (student/senior/military) and $23 (general admission).
Curtain times are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.
OnStage Playhouse is located at 291 Third Ave. in downtown Chula Vista. The theater is within walking distance of many restaurants for pre- and post-show dining. Parking is easily available on nearby streets or in several city lots.
For more information, call (619) 422-7787 or visit the website at www.onstageplayhouse.info.
