Capitol-izing on Ineptitude

Whoever said that writing a musical comedy was difficult never tried to write a musical comedy about national politics while President Bush was in office. Why, the team behind the touring production Capitol Steps is downright prolific. Under this administration, the jokes almost write themselves. For example, on its website (www.capsteps.com), the troupe was simply trying to report the straight news when it typed, “Treasury Secretary John Snow rings in the new year by begging Congress once again to raise the national debt ceiling for the fourth time in the Bush presidency from its current limit of $8.18 trillion. Otherwise the government will run out of money by February.” That’s not even funny and it’s funny. The premise of Capitol Steps is that the cast is made up of “current and former Congressional staffers who monitor events and personalities on Capitol Hill, in the Oval Office, and in other centers of power and prestige around the world and then take a humorous look at serious issues while providing a nationwide laugh for millions.” Check out their hits “ Ain’t No Surplus” (from the album Papa’s Got a Brand New Baghdad), “I’m So Indicted” (sung to the tune of the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited”), “If I Only Had a Plan” (sung to the tune of “If I Only Had Brain,” which, come to think of it, would itself have fit right in), and “The Sunni Side of Tikrit” (“The Sunny Side of the Street”). Capitol Steps opens Wednesday, January 18 and runs through Sunday, January 22 at the Broward Center for Performing Arts (201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Call 954-462-0222, or visit www.browardcenter.org . If you miss it, catch up with the political jokesters January 31 through February 12 at the Kravis Center for Performing Arts (801 Okeechobee Blvd. West Palm Beach). call 561-832-7469, or visit www.kravis.org.
Jan. 18-Feb. 12