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Outdated election-year satire
1812 Productions presents This Is the Week That Is
Josh Herren
1812 Productions revives its staple political satire revue This Is the Week That Is for its 19th edition. Having reviewed the virtual version of this production in 2020, I was excited to experience it live at Plays & Players. Unfortunately, what might have been fresh and sardonic nearly two decades ago now feels worn out. Much like The Daily Show struggling to find its footing in an increasingly chaotic news cycle, the light-hearted partisan humor of this show seems as outdated as Michelle Obama's famous line, "When they go low, we go high."
That’s not to say comedy can’t be a powerful tool for political commentary. I agree with artistic director Jen Childs when she says that comedy can open up important discussions. But to do so, it needs to be sharp, thought-provoking, and have a clear point of view. Too often, this show’s writing, performances, and direction evoke only mild chuckles without challenging the audience to see things from a new or surprising perspective.
Bad bipartisanship
The first act suffers from a reliance on "both sides are bad" humor, most notably in a "Bipartisan Homes and Gardens" sketch. In it, Childs and This Is the Week That Is regular, Pax Ressler, play ultra-conservative and liberal HGTV hosts. However, their characters feel like relics from another time. Childs portrays the conservative as a 1950s housewife, while Ressler’s liberal is an out-of-touch hippie. This outdated approach doesn’t resonate with today's political realities, making it seem like the show is out of touch with the satire it’s trying to create.
The act closes with a multi-song mini-musical about the 2024 election, narrated by Tim Walz (played with an unconvincing folksiness by Childs). By the time the ensemble (rounded out by Newton Buchanan, Lexi Thammavong, and Robyn Unger) sings a finale about "childless cat ladies," it's hard not to wonder what fresh material, if any, the second act might bring.
No laughing matter
Thankfully, the second act picks up a bit, largely thanks to Sean Close’s performance as the show’s Weekend Update-style news anchor. Close delivers his monologues with confidence and a much-needed edge, landing jokes that hit closer to the mark. Despite the sketch material still leaning too heavily on silliness, Close's delivery adds some bite to an otherwise limp affair.
In these divided times, it takes courage to look at the chaos of an election cycle and try to make people laugh. Unfortunately, This Is the Week That Is struggles to make this moment in history a laughing matter.
What, When, Where
This Is the Week That Is. Created and performed by an 1812 Productions ensemble, directed by Melanie Cotton. $47-$52. Through November 3, 2024, at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia. (215) 592-9560 or 1812productions.com.
Accessibility
The mainstage itself at Plays & Players is wheelchair-accessible, but the restrooms are accessible only by stairs. Masks are optional except for a masks-required performance on Sunday, October 20, at 2pm. There will be open-caption performances on Friday, October 18, at 7pm and Saturday, October 19, at 2pm.
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