“POTUS” by playwright Selina Fillinger, is a play where the President of the U.S. relies on seven brilliant women to do the work. The play was put on from Sept. 7 to Sept. 29 at ACT Contemporary Theatre in Seattle.
In this lighthearted play, seven women fix the mistakes of an idiotic president. This play depicts the hilarious ways that the women deal with the President’s mistakes while still trying to navigate their own personal lives and issues. The slight manipulation and witty comments the characters make is what makes this play truly genius.
Carly Corey, the actress who plays Dusty is someone that really stood out to me. She adds a kooky spin to the play that makes it a truly entertaining experience. Dusty acts as the dumb girl who believes the President is in love with her. She’s first introduced when she is drinking a blue slushie, saying that it is the only thing she can drink during her pregnancy. She then proceeds to throw it up, showing us that Dusty is not the brightest character. Her character is dull but that is what makes her comical, and a vital part of the play.
A character who I thought the play additionally benefited from was Stephanie. Annette Toutonghi, who plays Stephanie, made “POTUS” very enjoyable to watch. Her character goes from posing power stances in the White House bathrooms, to downing a bottle of Tums and running around the White House half naked, covered in blood. Stephanie adds so much comedy to this play and, on multiple occasions, made the audience burst into laughter all on her own. She is one of the outstanding parts of what made this play absolutely funny.
Another part of the play that made it astounding was the music. It was not just non-lyrical music, it was upbeat and funny. Artists such as Fergie, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B were some of the singers featured in “POTUS.” Their lyrics and melodies added to the play’s dynamic and how scenes were perceived. Instead of being detrimental when the President gets hit in the head with a statue, Fergie’s “London Bridge” starts to play and the entirety of the audience breaks into laughter.
I thought ACT Theatre’s rendition of “POTUS” was a comedically genius yet slightly profane play. From beginning to end, the play included many mature themes that may be uncomfortable for audiences who are sensitive to intense language and actions.
Overall, it is great to watch with family and friends who can tolerate maturity. The cast is absolutely hilarious and the content is positively astonishing. “POTUS” is a great laugh and I highly recommend seeing the play once you have the chance.
