This Is The Week That Is

Childs and Montrey as The Romneys

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s only All Comedy Theatre Company begins its 2012-2013 theatre season with This Is The Week That Is: The Election Special!  Housed at Plays and Players Theatre, 17^th and Delancey Street, 1812 Productions will present their seventh version of this annual favorite through November 4.  I have seen this show for the past 5 years and this may be the funniest version yet. Perhaps it is because Artistic Director Jennifer Childs is given more stage time than previous years.  No one who has ever seen her perform can deny her incredible talent and extraordinary sense of timing.  Perhaps it is because ensemble newcomer Aimé Kelly so closely resembles Michelle Obama that the audience roars as she makes the decisions in the White House sketches and Reuben Mitchell as “Barack” bumbles along with his slow, every so slow, drawn out  speech.  Some perennial favorites, such as Patsy on the stoop in South Philly and an audience member’s participation in the first act being integrated into the second act are shorter than in previous years. This leaves quite a bit of time for the cast to satirize up-to-the-minute local and state-wide political events. Hold onto your seat when Jennifer Childs enters the stage as Governor Christie or you just might slide off because you are laughing so hard. Dave Jadico, Don Montrey, Thomas E. Shotkin and Musical Director Alex Bechtel comprise the rest of this extraordinarily talented ensemble of writers and performers.   As the election heats up, the writers will rewrite parts of the show; it may never be exactly the same performance twice but what it will be is a rollicking good time. For more information or tickets call 215-592-9560 or visit online at www.1812productions.org.