This Is the Week That Is

Ensemble Cast in Top 40 sketch

1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s all comedy theatre located at 1714 Delancey Place in Center City, is presenting its annual political comedy This Is the Week That Is through January 4, 2020. As Dave Jadico begins his curtain speech, interspersed with numerous puns, one by one additional cast members come on stage, are introduced, and complain about the excessive use of puns. Two hold up signs petitioning an impeachment from the curtain speech. All cast members agree, followed by an impeachment trial which is left up to the audience. Due to popular demand, 1812 Productions has been including This IS The Week That Is in their season schedule for the past 14 years. This year the delicious satire in the first act is fresh and innovative. Relying heavily on the theme of elections, the ensemble cast outdid themselves in quick costume change, gender reversal and role play. “Steve Harvey” introduces contestants for The New Pyramid. When “Bernie Sanders”, “Joe Biden”, “Elizabeth Warren” and “Cory Booker” take the stage, the audience erupts in laughter. No less humorous are some of the categories on the board, such as Nicknames, Big Words and Porn Stars. When the categories are revealed, big Ooooohs are emitted from the audience. In a perfect world, one would expect these categories to be easy but of course, neither candidate scores a point. By now the audience expects a similar result from Warren and Booker and they are not disappointed. There are several hysterical numbers in the America Top 40 Countdown. One of the funniest is a cast member ensconced in a huge globe that is browner than green decrying climate change, singing “You Let Me Down.”  Perhaps the piece de resistance was a   Hamilton riff with all the Democratic Presidential candidates who had not been previously seen on stage. For those who like tradition, Patsy still sits on her stoop; there is still news from the News Desk and an Interview from the Lobby. But please don’t hesitate getting tickets to this performance thinking you have seen one just like it last year, because you haven’t.  This is 2020.0 – brighter, fresher, and more edgy. For more information or tickets, call 215-592-9560 or visit online at www.1812productions.org.