POTUS

POTUS focuses on the daily life struggles of six women who endure the arrogance and issues of dealing with the egos of men at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. With politics, a sister in prison for selling drugs seeking a pardon, and the President telling foreign dignitaries his wife is asking a little cunty today. However, Chief of Staff Harriet and Jean, the Press Secretary, have another White House PR nightmare when a young female mysteriously gets invited to the Oval Office and becomes a major problem when a reporter secretly records that the President has impregnated her. When the reporter is discovered during a hilarious exchange of trying to retrieve her phone before she gets out of the grounds, they all have something to risk when the reporter throws a statue that hits the President, causing his death. But is he really dead?  The full title is POTUS, Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive has a powerhouse cast of amazingly talented and gifted women from Steppenwolf, who themselves admitted to having a synonymous masculine history. Well, these seven women, featuring Ensemble Members Celeste M. Cooper(Chris), Sandra Marquez(Harriet), Caroline Neff

(Stephanie), and Karen Rodriquez as Jean, with cast members Karen Aldridge(Margaret), Meighan Gerachis(Bernadette), and Chloe Baldwin (Dusty), break the masculine Steppenwolf ceiling with their outstanding performances, letting anyone know that the power of sisterhood is alive well and still breaking down doors and barriers while saving the world from man's stupidity. All the ladies were incredible, mastering their comedic roles. I've always loved to see Rodriquez, Marquez, Cooper, and Neff perform. Still, Meighan Gerachis (I got a guy), who played Bernadette, was a riot.  

Potus, a farce by Selina Fillinger, is one of the most engaging, enthralling, and hilarious productions Steppenwolf has provided in years. Asking the eternal question, why isn't a woman the President, POTUS tells with gender-based power imbalances in American politics and society at large. Fillinger's genuine in this production is that although the play centers around the President, you never see or know which President this play references. Still, many in the audience during the night we were there were whispering that the dim-witted man in the office was Trump, which is no surprise, considering all of his recent issues. Fillinger's feminist approach is a reminder of the yeoman's work woman due to make things work, and these seven problem-solve women come together to solve a crisis, but that can be expected when you add the number of completion with men's helpmate. This topsy-turvy play has continual drama with brilliant individual storylines that blend into one exceptional performance. The adult comedy cleverly uses jocose profanity, making it a zany roller-coaster ride that will have you in tears. 

At the end, there is a statement where they mention no one likes that President, but they are more afraid of the alternative, meaning women in charge. Hilary Clinton could attest to that. It has a lot of truth in this witty play, so don't miss it because it adds to the comic satire, and the acting in this production is priceless. The second act lost some of its zinging humor, but overall, the audience will have a blast watching POTUS.  

3 STARS ***

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Steppenwolf Theatre Company

POTUS: OR BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE

By Selina Fillinger

Directed by Artistic Director Audrey Francis

October 26 - December 10, 2023

One hour and 45 minutes with an admission