Clinton the Musical: Theater review by Raven Snook
That infamous blue dress is looking mighty threadbare. Though it’s been streamlined since its run at last year’s New York Musical Theatre Festival, Clinton the Musical still isn’t outrageous enough to be gleefully offensive nor clever enough to be insightful political satire. Instead, it rehashes all the oversexposed headlines and players from the ’90s—Monica Lewinsky! Linda Tripp! Kenneth Starr!—in a flaccid bid for naughty nostalgia.
Its assets include a crackerjack cast (especially Broadway stalwart Kerry Butler, who brings humanity to a pantsuited Hillary Clinton; Kevin Zak’s maniacal, sexual-deviant Starr); and an intriguing conceit that has Bill Clinton portrayed by two actors (Tom Galantich as the statesman and Duke Lafoon as the womanizer). But the production is done in by forgettable tunes, tired jokes and lowbrow lewdicrousness. When the night’s biggest laugh is the lyric “I’m fucking the fucking President,” then everyone’s being screwed.
New World Stages (see Off Broadway). Music and lyrics by Paul Hodge. Book by Michael and Paul Hodge. Directed by Dan Knechtges. With ensemble cast. Running time: 1hr 35mins. No intermission.