By Tracy Hawkins
No, the President of the United States is not making a stop in Old City, but the all-female entourage of a fictional modern-day president is. Selina Fillinger’s “POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” is playing on the F. Otto Haas Stage at the Arden Theatre Company with an exceptional cast in a splendid production.
The cast of Arden Theatre Company’s 2024 production of POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.
The unnamed president has created a public relations nightmare at the start of the play by dropping an extremely profane word into his remarks. When asked who was there, it is noted that the Washington Post, CNN, the New York Times and three Chinese diplomats were present, among others. The adjective was directed at the absent First Lady, who was actually present as well. Efforts to contain the crisis build from reasonable to unlikely to ridiculous until the play descends into absolute chaos. But what a ride!
Karen Peakes (Jean), Kimberly Gilbert (Bernadette) and Alia Munsch (Dusty) in Arden Theatre Company’s 2024 production of POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. Photo By Ashley Smith, Wide Eyed Studios.
Under the direction of Philadelphia’s own comedic talent Jennifer Childs, the ensemble races around the stage in this non-stop farce of keeping said president alive in the polls, and in other respects as well. The cast features a who’s who of the area’s finest actresses, including Susan Riley Stevens (Chief of Staff Harriet), Karen Peakes (Press Secretary Jean), a screamingly funny Suzanne O’Donnell (Secretary Stephanie), Rachel Leslie (First Lady Margaret), Kimberly Gilbert (First Sister Bernadette), and Jessica Johnson (a journalist), the play’s rapid-fire dialogue calls to mind an NC-17 rated “Gilmore Girls” episode with Aaron Sorkin supervising edits.
As always, the Arden puts on an amazing show, and particularly a great set design by Colin McIlvaine, partnered with wonderful lighting (Krista Smith), sound (Liz Atkinson), and costumes (Ariel Wang).
In her Director’s Note, Ms. Childs mentions the timing of this production, during an election cycle. But there are no references to a political party, or to a specific politician, and the use of the political arena is just a device. Ms. Childs does point out that “ . . . there are hundreds of thousands of women cleaning up messes they didn’t make and keeping this American train on its tracks.” And Ms. Fillinger dedicates this work to, “ . . . any woman who’s ever found herself the secondary character in a male farce.” In our polarized society, this play does not take sides, except whichever one is silliest.
If you go:
“Potus” runs through Oct. 13, and tickets are available at www.ardentheatre.org. Run time is 1:45 with one intermission. Be aware that there is strong language and mature themes throughout the play.