Theater review by Raven Snook
In a moment of gaping political wounds and sores, a high-spirited musical comedy about Barack Obama may sound like a balm. Sadly, the overlong and tonally befuddled 44—written, directed and produced by TV writer Eli Bauman, who campaigned for Obama in Las Vegas as a young man—is often as much of a slog as the partisan idiocy it mocks.
Joe Biden (a broad Chad Doreck, milking every possible laugh) intermittently narrates this unsharp satire, which traces the ups and downs of the first Black first family from Obama's inspiring speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention to his second inauguration. As Barack and Michelle, T.J. Wilkins and the mononymous Shanice smartly avoid impersonation and instead raise the spoof with powerhouse pipes, belting the hell out of Bauman's pastiche R&B score. Most of the songs sound so familiar that you can essentially hum along, but a few are bangers; there's a reason "M.F.O." (short for "Mutherfukin' Obama") is reprised so frequently.
44—The Musical | Photograph: Jenny Anderson
Considering Obama's enemies were obsessed with his race, perhaps it's fitting that, as a parody, 44 is only skin deep; "How Black Is Too Black?" is about as profound as the show’s questions get. Most of the humor is of the lazily outrageous variety: Obama's nemeses, in cahoots with a cabal called W.H.A.M.—an acronym for White Hetero Affluent Men—include a villainous Mitch McConnell (Larry Cedar, making the most of his rap song), an obsequious Herman Cain (Dino Shorté), a pole-dancing Sarah Palin (the limber Summer Collins), a fey Lindsey Graham (Jeff Sumner) and a spineless Ted Cruz (Michael Uribes, serving a funny recreation of the Green Eggs and Ham filibuster). An irate Hillary Clinton (Jenna Pastuszek) also shows up and croons "My Turn," which sounds like an outtake from Suffs.
In a pluralistic society, of course, amusement levels may vary. 44 had healthy runs in L.A. and Chicago; many people around me laughed riotously throughout, and were brought to tears by a Sandy Hook sequence that, to me, felt mawkish. The show may not have my vote, but I must concede that it seems to poll better with others.
44—The Musical. Daryl Roth Theatre (Off Broadway). Book, music and lyrics by Eli Bauman. Directed by Bauman. Starring T.J. Wilkins, Shanice, Chad Doreck. Running time: 2hr 20mins. One intermission.
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44—The Musical | Photograph: Jenny Anderson
