The Clintons make a comeback
Clinton The Musical, playing at the New World Stages, is a piece depicting the trials and tribulations that The White House faced during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. This musical is a look into the legacy that the 42nd President left while he was in office and provides a very satirical insight to what his administration faced during this challenging time. With Bill Clinton being the leading character, it was interesting to see him divided into two separate entities, Billy Clinton (Duke Lafoon), the sensual and charming side of Bill Clinton that can’t seem to keep it in his pants, and WJ Clinton (Tom Galantich), the sweet and charismatic side of Bill Clinton that America came to love when he was first elected into office.
What was interesting about this musical was not only the way it told the story of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and its impact on society, but also the way that it talked about the politics behind the face of the scandal. Even though this musical is a comedy, the way that it talked about the complicated politics behind the scenes was done in such a smart way because it was very lighthearted and somewhat charming. This helped the audience relate more to this topic and keep up with everything that was going on. The writers for this musical, Paul Hodge and Michael Hodge, did such a phenomenal job with this musical from developing characters to writing smart and somewhat subtle jokes. One of the best parts about the show was Hilary Clinton’s character, who was played by the fantastic Kerry Butler. Within the character they incorporated jokes and personality traits such as her thirst for presidential power which is very relevant in today’s society. One of the most memorable came from Hilary regarding the email scandal.
The talented Judy Gold played Eleanor Roosevelt along with many other characters throughout the performance. First of all, her Eleanor Roosevelt voice was spot on. She ran with it and made it her own. Also, the jokes that Gold told were great. It is clear that Judy Gold, being the comedian that she is, is just a master of her craft, be it on TV or on stage, and not much else can be said about that.
Lastly, the overall production of the musical was great. To start off, Kerry Butler was spectacular. Butler hit all the notes she was given, sang beautifully, and really was able to resemble a 1990’s Hilary Clinton. Butler is a phenomenal performer and nothing fell short in her portrayal. Similarly, Kevin Zak, who played Kenneth Starr in the musical, was amazing as well. His character was equal parts strange and hilarious and could guarantee the audience many laughs whenever he entered the stage. In addition, the brilliant lyrics and score aided these performers. The songs expertly showcased each performer’s range as singers, while also allowing for impeccably timed jokes. One exemplary moment was when Starr impressed the audience with his breathtaking falsetto and landed a perfectly timed pun right after only to keep the audience further in awe of his talent.
These songs were catchy, fun, and just extremely memorable, so much so that when you walk out of the theater you can’t help but hum the tune to your favorite song of the night. Overall, Clinton The Musical was an extremely fun show that leaves nothing to be desired. The show will open on April 9, 2015 at New World Stages.
-Vinesh Vora
