Washington, D.C., just gets funnier and funnier. Not the city itself, but the federal government.
Its foibles, faults and blunders are at the least frustrating and the most infuriating, yet they remain commonplace in the decisions made by mostly white men that should be guiding this country in a positive direction. Every four years, attempts at change are made, and every four years little happens. The least we can do while watching the ship sink is have a good laugh, care of a bunch of insiders who have spent decades singing about the missteps of our leaders and policymakers.
The Capitol Steps have done just that; since 1981 this musical troupe has paid close attention to what goes on inside the beltway, quickly flipping national events, scandals and mistakes into laughter. The Capitol Steps will perform tomorrow at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. Performing are Jamie Zemarel, Morgan Duncan, Brad Van Grack, Barie Biern and Janet Gordon. They’ll be accompanied by pianist Dave Kane.
It began as a group of Capitol Hill staffers seeking entertainment at a party. Skits were written about co-workers and bosses, and the act has grown into a stage show that is performed regularly in Washington and around the country. They’ve performed for all presidents since they started except the current one.
“We started in 1981 as entertainment for a senate office Christmas party. We were senate staffers at the time,” said founder and writer Elaina Newport. “We were trying to do this without getting fired. We were going to write songs about the politicians and our bosses, at the time it was Reagan. Thirty-three years later, we’re still doing it because nobody made us stop. We are all former staffers laughing at the place that we came from.”
Newport’s parodies of American politics aren’t dictated by successes or failures; they are driven by what will make good entertainment.
“When I listen to the news, I don’t think about if it’s good for country or bad for the country. I think, ‘is it funny and what rhymes with it,’” she said.
The act has gotten some mileage out of the last three presidents, each contributing to the stage show with political material that writes itself. Look for Obama to be a recurring punch line.
“The Clinton administration was the gold standard for comedians, and when George Bush came in, he was great because of the mangled language,” Newport said. “Barack Obama has finally gotten very funny. He’s gotten into a lot of situations, either with the Obamacare website, the NSA scandal or the Secret Service; we’ve been having a lot of fun with him lately.”
Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
Bryant’s best
Today: Tribal Seeds, Ballyhoo, Gonzo, Beyond I, 9 p.m., $23, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive, 799-2281.
Saturday: The Capitol Steps, 7:30 p.m., $30/$34/$42, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive, 247-7657.
