Political Theatre category archive

David points out that Donald Trump’s narcissistic personality disorder birthday treating America’s military as a blow-up doll for his own personal gratification bash did not go so well. (Warning: Short promo at the end.)

(Warning: Mild language.)

From the Youtube page:

Here’s a bit of (rude) fun to mark Donald’s birthday, with thanks to two people on social media who recommended the song to us, and we were amused. It’s derived from the Frozen movie and originally titled “Fixer Upper” (and sung by cute trolls, about a hoped-for marriage). Since it may be a niche reference unless you have kids/grandkids or are pretty young yourself, you can find the original here: • Maia Wilson, Cast of Frozen – Fixer Upper … .

In case this critique of Trump and his administration’s actions be conflated, this is also a chance to wish the US Army and all its veterans a happy 250th birthday! We couldn’t fit the graphic into the full-on montage, but found this cautionary phrase telling from the first Commander-in-Chief, George Washington, in his 1796 Farewell Address:

“ … disorders and miseries gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”

David comments on ABC’s decision to fire Terry Moran and how it amounts to knuckling under to Trump self-censorship. A quote:

You don’t need to shut down the press when the press is too scared to speak . . . .

Via Job’s Anger.

(Warning: Short commericial at the end.)

From the Youtube page:

“Agony” is one of the many extraordinary and hilarious songs from Stephen Sondheim’s magnificent “Into the Woods” (1986) which has long been a family favourite. The original involves two fairytale princes reflecting on their painful pursuit of maidens within the intertwined plots of Brothers Grimm tales. Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen did a great job in the 2014 movie but we think the most perfect take was sung by Robert Westenburg and Chuck Wagner in the original Broadway production.

It would naturally have been better to cast Alfie as the Second Prince … but needs must with topical parodies, and he was off playing cricket for Faversham today. So this is Ben and Tom (with help and some giggling behind the scenes from Danielle and Tess) using the song to reflect on the unamicable breakup – playing out on all our social media feeds around the world – between the two powerful but petulant men at the centre of the American government, Elon Musk and Donald Trump. It’s hard not to get the popcorn out and wait for the next move in their toddler antics, especially if you are not a fan of the administration and its manic instability. It was tempting to try to shoehorn more references in (to bills, lawns, karma, tariffs, and pork), but we mostly gravitated to Sondheim’s original framework because it’s so strong. Plus, there’s a reprise of “Agony” in Act II so this may end up as a Suella Braverman-style refrain.

Steve M. hears a rhyme echoing all the way from the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.

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*Mark Twain.