POTUS OR Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Written by Selina Fillinger; Directed by Christina Shea-Wright
Presented by City Gate Productions and The Secret Theatre
The Secret Theatre | 38-02 61st St Woodside, NY 11377
March 14-23, 2025
How do I begin? Dialogue said multiple times in the play pops in neon pink across my thoughts. Why isn’t she president? That is the eternal question.
I’ll jump off from there and start at the beginning. After I greeted the City Gate staff and ushers, I walked into the theatre hearing Taylor Swift. Then Lizzo. Following them, a dynamic collective of female voices blast through the speakers.
I had a strong feeling I was in for a few hours of powerful characters, dynamic storytelling, and a vibe that makes one want to get up, bust a move, and join in. My suspicion was correct. Even though I had my notebook open and pen ready, I wrote absolutely no notes throughout the performance. I was completely immersed in City Gate Productions’ presentation of POTUS.
From the moment the actors stepped onto the simply set stage, me and my fellow audience members were in the White House with them. We were there, listening and witnessing each whimsical exchange of problem-solving words the ladies of our play spoke.
They each had their own distinct personalities and more times than not, I laughed out loud because of the vibrant choices POTUS’s players made. They were real women talking about very real conditions in a very real way. “Bad words” and all.
Christina Shea-Wright’s direction included the audience in the story via multiple ways. Actors address audience members directly, and the songs chosen for scene transitions sprinkle a welcoming personality into the ears of the audience, bringing them into the action.
This is a farce that invites you in, especially given its subject matter. The President of the United States does something not-so-keen, and here is his staff, his wife, his sister, and his lover trying to clean his mess up. Something we’re all familiar with.
Women are especially familiar with messes. This show is a comedic and oh-so-relatable reflection of the everyday problem-solving lengths women go to in order to keep things afloat. It’s the personification of the saying “behind every great man is a great woman.” In this case, “great man” is up for lengthy interpretation, provoking this thought: Why isn’t she president? That is the eternal question.
POTUS is a feminist piece that successfully ran on Broadway in 2022. City Gate Productions’ presentation doesn’t dare shy away from that. It’s bold, It’s hilarious, it’s layered. It’s all too relevant. The mess hasn’t stopped, and it’ll keep on going until we join in.
I urge you to see this laugh-out-loud production (complete with fake blood, breast pumps, and a possible murder) as soon as you can. POTUS runs at The Secret Theatre until March 23. You will not be disappointed.
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Amanda Montoni.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on March 16th, 2025. All rights reserved.