Although the calculated inactivity of Congress is the basis for the Lake County Theatre Company (LCTC) current presentation of “Congress, You”re Fired!,” it isn”t a particularly political play.
Like the theater that preceded the Prague Spring, it refers to politics and may well have a political sub-text but is mostly just funny and entertaining.
You will bring with you your own beliefs and leave with them intact, especially if you are among the 90 percent who think that Congress can”t be trusted to create law for the United States or if you believe that peace and love are the best way to go.
The comedy”s theme is reality TV. The idea is that Congress, having for years done nothing to take good care of the needs of the country, has been disbanded and the lawmaking function has been passed to a television series that presents groups with opposing points of view, leaving the decision about laws and programs to be voted on by the audience.
The particular issue that this comedy addresses is the proposed invasion of Slobovia (because they are Slobs, therefore hateful, and they have oil) and it is argued by the General and his honor guard versus Penelope Peace and her Pieces of Peace. You will enjoy finding out more about all of them at the proper time, in the theater, as the story progresses.
One thing is, you may well find yourself longing for a nice Piece of Peace before the evening is over, especially if you are of the male persuasion. Even the honor guard becomes convinced of the virtues of being stress-free and love-filled, under the influence of the salient points of the Pieces” arguments.
We saw the opening night at the Moose Lodge. It is always chancy to go to opening nights in Lake County. We have good actors here, good directors, good stage hands, but somehow opening night is often more like a final dress rehearsal.
On Friday, the actors all had their parts down, their songs together and they got the laughs timed right, but there were technical snags. That is not too surprising, working on a strange and jury-rigged stage, and it didn”t really diminish our enjoyment. But I look forward to seeing a first night that is polished and flawless. Perhaps we”ll get that when there are multiple dress rehearsals open to the public or to reviewers and that will be possible when the LCTC gets its own playhouse. How I long for that day.
I admire the courage of this repertory company in producing plays in difficult and impromptu houses. I think they could do theater on street corners, if that were legal. By the time you read this, it should be like clockwork. And then all too soon it will close.
This play was written and directed by Suna Flores who has starred in and directed many sterling productions in Lake County. I”ll never forget her leading role in “Wit” years ago, at the theater in the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum.
“Christmas Carol at the Museum” was under her direction, and it too was a stand-out.
Flores has dedicated Congress to the Lake County Summer of Peace and the proceeds will benefit Meals-On-Wheels in Lake County.
I would like to point out some especially effective actors, in no particular order. Rod Rehe is good as the announcer Lance NonCommittal, and, broad as this comedy is, his role calls for some subtlety as he is amusingly torn between professional objectivity and lust.
Randy Hare, a multi-talented actor and graphic artist, is perfect for General Warren Monger and he looks like he was born in camouflage fatigues.
Diana Schmidt as Miss Penelope Peace is playing a role that she is dynamite in, the seemingly brainless sexy babe who appears to be flailing about intellectually and yet keeps hitting the nail on the head.
Barbara Clark as Generosity, one of the Pieces of Peace, is utterly charming, so there. And Reiko Hattari as Hope, another of the Pieces, has that amazing singing voice. In fact, unusual as it is for local little theater, all the actors did their bits with conviction and skill, including those with small parts and little experience.
This is not a profound play, although it touches on some profound ideas. It is a musical comedy centered in the here-and-now. I doubt that it would have made any sense at all 20 years ago, or 20 years hence.
The arguments pro and con about direct democracy, which the play illustrates in passing, were vital when I was in high school 50 years ago, but seem almost quaint now. The disagreements over hatred and love, war and peace, greed and generosity, that have been argued for millennia and that have been claimed by religious and political philosophies, will not be resolved by this play. But you can have fun swimming near the surface of deep waters. Give it a try, you”ll like it.
Showtimes for “Congress: You”re Fired!” are 7 p.m. Friday, 5:30 p.m. with a dinner show on Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lakeport Senior Activity Center.
Tickets are available at the Moose Lodge, 998-3740, Shannon Ridge Tasting Room, 998-9656 and Live Oak Senior Center, 998-1950, all in Clear Lake Oaks; and the Lakeport Senior Activity Center, 263-4218, Watershed Books, 263-5787 and The Meals on Wheels Thrift Store, 263-6174, all in Lakeport. Tickets can be purchased at the door and the whole family is welcome. For more information, call 279-2595.
