Bush Wars: Not So Friendly Fire

Although it's not exactly spelled out in the Bill of Rights, one of the great gifts the founding fathers gave to generations of Americans to come was the right to political satire. But all too often the honor of being called "satirical" is bestowed upon material that is merely cute. Sure, you may get a chuckle out of a George W. Bush impersonator having trouble pronouncing the word "nuclear", and hey, who doesn't like a good pun making light of the vice-president's first name (spare me your list, I'm being rhetorical), but real satire delves into more dangerous territory.

In her song-and-sketch spoof Bush Wars, writer Nancy Holson isn't afraid of making enemies or even of making her friends feel a little uncomfortable. The show is completely and utterly anti every move ever made by the present administration, but partisanship aside, her writing is exceedingly clever, frequently inventive and, although she's not above the occasional Dick joke, written on an informed level that isn't just torn from the headlines, but takes a highlighter to the actual articles, commentaries and op ed pages as well.

After musical director Alex Roving plays a keyboard overture where patriotic themes are musically at war with each other, we get fourteen sketches centered on parodies of popular songs. A newly elected Bush explains his plan to unite the country in his favor with, "I Want a War Just Like the War Declared by Dear Old Dad." An ape is disappointed with the trend of rejecting the teaching of evolution and sings, "Everything's Out of Date in Kansas City" before dancing an interpretive ballet where he is pushed aside by Adam and Eve; finally deciding to pack his bags and head for a blue state along with Columbus, Einstein and a stem cell. Two toddlers lament the fall of social security with "When I'm Sixty-Five" and Karl Rove teaches the president how to manipulate the truth with "Don't Lie Out Loud."

But aside from having funny ideas, Holson backs them up with lyrics that are consistently insightful and vicious. Bush does a vaudeville routine singing "Bosom Buddies" with Jesus Christ, warbling, "Who else but a bosom buddy / Can walk on the water / Interpreting broader…" A Supreme(s) Court justice, in "Stop in the Name of Us", sings of striking down Roe v. Wade, "Back to the alleys where you take your chance / The wealthy people can go to France."

And there are scenes that can test an audience's comfort level. In one bit W is treating Barbara Bush to Mother's Day dinner at The Olive Garden, where they run into Osama bin Laden and his mom. Angered that he's not given the same amount of credit for terrorist actions as Saddam Hussein, Osama joins the other three in a parody of West Side Story's "America", with punch lines describing his delight in pulling off the 9/11 attacks and his warnings that more is on the way while Bush is distracted by Iraq. It's a sharp sketch that makes informed points about combating terrorism, but it may not be the easiest part of the evening to sit through.

The spirited and versatile company (Jay Falzone, Jason Levinson, Andrea McCormick, Abigail Nessen and Chris Van Hoy) not only does wonderful chameleon work, playing multiple characters in Elizabeth Payne's cheery assortment of costumes, but also sings and dances at a much higher level than what you'd expect from the cast of your typical topical revue. Choreographer Falzone (who co-directed with Holson) has the crew executing an impressive number of styles from Minsky's to Motown to Martha Graham.

Your enjoyment of Bush Wars, of course, will depend heavily on your political views and your knowledge of what's going on in the world. In the finale song, the cast assures the audience that if they've offended anyone, they make no apologies. It's the patriotic duty of every funny American to criticize what they feel is wrong with the country, and to make their criticisms as entertaining as possible.

Photos by Jim Russek Top: Jay Falzone and Jason Levinson
Bottom: Clockwise from top L: Jay Falzone, Jason Levinson, Andrea McCormick, Chris Van Hoy and Abigail Nessen