Advertisement
Stay in the Loop
BSR publishes on a weekly schedule, with an email newsletter every Wednesday and Thursday morning. There’s no paywall, and subscribing is always free.
Never mind the week. What year is this?
1812's "This Is the Week That Is"
Steve Cohen
This Is the Week That Is, the annual holiday-time revue from the comedy troupe 1812 Productions, used to focus on politics. Lately it's evolved into a gentle evening of generalized spoofs of TV and pop culture— the sort of show that's engagingly warm, fuzzy and entertaining but lacks a sharp satirical edge.
The best segments from the past are back and still enjoyable: Jen Childs as "Patsy from Fifth and Shunk"; Dave Jadico conducting interviews in the theater lobby; and a Philadelphia variation of Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update," with Susan Riley Stevens and Don Montrey sending-up formulaic local TV news reporters.
Scott Greer was droll as the weatherman, Aimé Kelly, a vivacious new cast member, sang with soul.
Most engaging was a parody of Doctor Seuss books to the meter of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, with Michelle Bachmann reciting, "I'm strictly pro-life, no exceptions at all/ A person's a person no matter how small," and Rick Santorum reply, "Well, I'm Rick Santorum and you know what I say:/ A person's a person except if they're gay."
With a presidential election coming up, I would hope for more focus on political satire from 1812 in 2012.
The best segments from the past are back and still enjoyable: Jen Childs as "Patsy from Fifth and Shunk"; Dave Jadico conducting interviews in the theater lobby; and a Philadelphia variation of Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update," with Susan Riley Stevens and Don Montrey sending-up formulaic local TV news reporters.
Scott Greer was droll as the weatherman, Aimé Kelly, a vivacious new cast member, sang with soul.
Most engaging was a parody of Doctor Seuss books to the meter of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, with Michelle Bachmann reciting, "I'm strictly pro-life, no exceptions at all/ A person's a person no matter how small," and Rick Santorum reply, "Well, I'm Rick Santorum and you know what I say:/ A person's a person except if they're gay."
With a presidential election coming up, I would hope for more focus on political satire from 1812 in 2012.
What, When, Where
This Is the Week That Is. Conceived and directed by Jennifer Childs; head writer Don Montrey. Presented by 1812 Productions through December 31, 2011 at Plays and Players Theatre, 1724 Delancey Pl. (215) 592-9560 or www.1812productions.org.
Sign up for our newsletter
All of the week's new articles, all in one place. Sign up for the free weekly BSR newsletters, and don't miss a conversation.
