POTUS Comes to Delaware; Women Rule the Show

By Mike Logothetis
Theater reviewer Mike Logothetis grew up in North Wilmington, performing in school and local theater productions. He lives in Newark, but you can find him wherever the arts are good.

POTUS at City Theater Company.
Photo by Moonloop Photography.

Raise “Old Glory” and hang the bunting because City TheaterCompany (CTC) is welcoming POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive to its riverfront stage. The Tony-nominated comedy is an all-female satire of the inner workings of the Executive Branch (on a very bad day). Playwright Selina Fillinger has artfully/crassly tapped into the modern world of American politics with a biting look behind the scenes at the White House.

Cast members Mary Carpenter (Harriet), Jordan Fidalgo (Chris), Karen Getz (Bernadette), Kelsey Hébert (Stephanie), Jessica Jordan (Jean), Heron Kennedy (Dusty), and LaNeshe Miller White (Margaret/FLOTUS) purred like a finely-tuned engine. They consistently hit the gas and sped things up without losing control.

The New York Times originally called the 2022 show “Gleefully filthy,” which is an apt description. The play is rated R for adult content, situations, and (mostly) language. There is a lot of, let’s say, “colorful vernacular” peppered throughout the action. But, vulgarity aside, the dialog is the best part. The repartee is clever and biting and delivered expertly by the cast. Most importantly, it’s funny…very funny.

Lines like, “I need all of them first!” (Harriet), “No howling at the White House!” (Jean), and “We all serve in different ways” (Dusty) had the audience in stitches. The constant attacks on Jean’s wardrobe delivered laughs over and over – “…Jackie O meets Carl Sagan” (Bernadette).

The pacing of the show is quick. The snappy dialog and interwoven plot points come fast. Kudos to Director Kristin Finger for keeping everything on track; although parts of the second act seemed a tad chaotic. But, then again, that’s the nature of the play. Strap in and enjoy the ride!

I don’t want to discount the heaps of physical comedy on display. Whether it was Dusty’s blue-lipped cheerleading routine, Chris’s endless lactation issues, or Stephanie’s “Power Stance,” these women kept bringing the laughs.

There was a real sense of sisterhood, even though internal rivalries and external issues kept impeding their collective goal of “progress for women.” They were in the same mess together and needed their collective powers to right the ship. Can they pull it off? Do your duty as an American: Buy a ticket and find out!

There are some short musical interludes between scenes and featured songs by local artists Grace Vonderkuhn, Hot Breakfast, and Nitro Nitra, which were great to hear. In fact, the POTUS program has QR links to the soundtrack (Spotify and Apple Music).

POTUS will run through March 7. Curtain is at 8:00pm for all performances except for the Sunday (March 1) matinee, which starts at 2:00pm. The run time is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. City Theater Company’s home is at The Delaware Contemporary – located at 200 South Madison, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. 

General admission tickets ($45) can be purchased at the box office or online at city-theater.org. Special ticket pricing is available for military personnel ($35), seniors ($35), and students ($25). All shows feature free admission to the museum galleries, and a cash bar is available. The Delaware Contemporary offers free parking and is a short walk from the Joseph R. Biden Amtrak train station. Please call the box office at 302.220.8285 or email info@city-theater.org for details.

Founded in 1993, City Theater Company performs contemporary comedies, new works, and classic musicals to critical acclaim inside The Delaware Contemporary. Both institutions are invested in promoting the work of local and emerging artists, advancing opportunity and growth by and for the community, and welcoming all those looking to experience art.

– “FML” (Harriet)