Photo Coverage: "Capitol Steps" Highlight BCT Benefit

Some very adult humor spiced a very youthful cause on Saturday, June 21, as the sassy, brassy political satirists, the Capitol Steps, entertained a sold-out audience at Boston's Emerson Majestic Theater on Tremont Street. Boston City Councilor John Tobin, whose Theatre District Productions presented the performance, also hosted a special fund-raising benefit for the Boston Children's Theatre (BCT) in conjunction with the event.

Prior to the performance BCT patrons and guests attended a cocktail party at Jacob Wirth's Restaurant on Stuart Street. The reception featured select beers and wines, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, and a raffle and silent auction. Special honoree was outgoing BCT Executive Director Patricia Gleeson, retiring after 19 years of dedicated service to the 58-year-old organization that provides year-round opportunities for both inner city and suburban kids ages eight to 18 to present "live theatre for children by children." Boston's oldest continually operating theater company, BCT each year works with nearly 500 young artists and presents more than 100 performances that reach an annual audience of 12,000.

During the entertainment portion of the evening, the Capitol Steps – Brian Ash, Tracey Stephens, Morgan Duncan, and Kevin and Jenny Corbett – took hilarious shots at Obama, Hillary, McCain, Al Gore, the Middle East, aging Supreme Court Justices, an indiscreet senator and governor, and a president prone to embarrassing malapropisms. They also took on our pharmaceutical culture, gas-guzzling motor vehicles (and their owners), delegates vs. super-delegates, North Korea, the economy, the scientific community that in its infinite wisdom (and at no small expense) declassified Pluto as a planet, and the superstar media personalities Rush Limbaugh and Anne Coulter of the fundamental Christian Right.

All is done using clever song parodies – the Forbidden Broadway of politics, if you will. Tony Orlando's "Knock Three Times" becomes "Tap Three Times," airport bathroom code for a "confused" Larry Craig. Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection" becomes President Bush's "Brain-Mouth Connection," and attempts at détente between Israeli and Palestinian Prime Ministers Olmert and Haniya translate into a groan-inducing "Embraceable Jew." As Capitol Step member Brian Ash described backstage before the performance, "We're equal opportunity offenders."

Two of the funniest and most challenging segments are Tracey Stephens' bipolar send-up of prescription drug side effects, "10 Pills and You're Fine" sung to "The Windmills of Your Mind," and Kevin Corbett's tongue-twisting Spoonerisms in which he switches the first letters of adjoining words to make biting commentaries out of seemingly nonsensical but always decipherable phrases. For example, Bill Clinton becomes Clill Binton, Donald Trump becomes Tronald Dump. My personal favorite was one he left up to the audience: Shiloh Pitt becomes…well, you get the idea.

Proceeds from the BCT Capitol Steps Benefit will support performance, outreach, and educational initiatives including an annual five-show main stage season, the summer Stagemobile Tour Company, and the Milestone Moments Playwriting Contest. BCT alumni include Julie Taymor, Tony Award-winning director of The Lion King; Susan Batson, acting coach for stars such as Sean Combs and Nicole Kidman and president and founder of Black Nexxus, Inc.; and Kasi Lemmons, actress and award-winning director of Talk to Me with Don Cheadle, writer/director of Eve's Bayou with Samuel L. Jackson, and director of The Caveman's Valentine, also with Jackson. Her latest film, The Jailhouse Lawyer, is scheduled for release in November 2008.

For more information about the Boston Children's Theatre, or to make donations, visit www.bostonchildrenstheatre.org. BCT is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and all contributions are tax deductible.

 

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