THE BUSHY PLAYS Ann Filmer directs four one-acts: Lick the Sucker by Lisa Dillman, Get Out the Vote by Rebecca Gilman, Calibrated by Mark Guarino, and W. by Brett Neveu. "Some content may offend," the press release promises. Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 773-227-4433. Through 10/26: Tue 7:30 PM. $5.
CHRIS' SLUMBER PARTY NATIONAL CONVENTION Two shows get squeezed into one lumpy mess in this Chemically Imbalanced Comedy late-night offering. Creator Chris Churchill describes it in press materials as "a kid's show for . . . angry grown-ups." This translates into occasional attempts at clumsy quasi-political commentary delivered by four pajama-clad adults, who also spout irritating non sequiturs and insult one another--their relationships feel like overextended improv riffs. In Tony Mendoza's meandering staging, it's hard to tell what the overarching political message is, other than that George W. Bush is an asshat and that racial and ethnic epithets are wrong (though making fun of people with Down syndrome is apparently OK). Unlike a real slumber party, this gathering can be downbeat to the point of funereal. Some of the sequences might be mildly amusing if you're stoned. Unfortunately, I wasn't. --Kerry Reid Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln, 773-865-7731. Through 11/19: Fri 11 PM. $8.
LAURA'S BUSH The pseudonymous Jane Martin's breezy political satire is less biting than it is silly, but an energetic ensemble makes it a lot of fun. The perky Dody Dotson is a "radical liberal Pentecostal prelesbian librarian" who's figured out that Laura Bush is signaling "help me" in Morse code during her television appearances. Dody and Desiree, a prostitute, then rescue Laura and learn of a nefarious plot that involves Saddam Hussein's body double, Hillary Clinton, the Bush administration, and Wal-Mart. Brooke Behle and Charissa Wheeler as the rescuers and a blowsy Kristy Lockhart as the First Lady play up the script's eroticism, so it's believable when Laura and Dody hook up; Lockhart is particularly fine as a woman who's been repressed for too long. Xavier Winters, playing Colin Powell among other roles, isn't up to the same level, but his portrayal of Bill Clinton's ghost gets laughs. --Jennifer Vanasco Frankie J's MethaDome Theater, 4437 N. Broadway (second floor), 312-731-1804. Through 10/30: Thu and Sat, 8 PM. $7-$10.
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT M.S. Garvey's one-man show is based on "a steady stream of correspondence" Garvey sent to the Bush White House in the wake of the 2000 presidential election. Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland, 773-384-0494. 10/23-31: Sat 10:30 PM, Sun 8 PM. Fri 10/29, 10:30 PM. $7.
MOCK THE VOTE--DEMOCKRACY IN ACTION Election-year satire by Slobodie Productions and the Onion, directed by Matt Tiegler. When not relying on easy cynicism about dim-witted or womanizing politicians, the cast produced some fresh comedy from seemingly bland ideas. (JG) Through 10/23: Sat 11:30 PM. Then Mon 11/1, 8 PM. $12. Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-327-5252.
1984 George Orwell's cautionary tale is adapted by Andrew White. Lookingglass Theatre Company, Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan, 312-337-0665. Previews through 10/10: Thu-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM. $20. Then 10/13-15: Wed-Fri 7:30 PM. $25. Opens Sat 10/16, 8 PM. Through 11/28: Wed-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM. Sat 11/20, 3 and 8 PM. Wed 11/24, 3 and 7:30 PM. $15-$58.
OF THEE I SING Recalling the Marx Brothers, this 1931 Pulitzer-winning musical spoofs a presidential campaign in which candidate John P. Wintergreen holds a beauty contest to choose a bride. Winning on a platform of love for all, he then inconveniently tumbles for his campaign secretary and marries her instead. Seventy-three years ago George and Ira Gershwin, George S. Kaufman, and Morrie Ryskind anticipated the concept of infotainment, the use of impeachment for political purposes, even the xenophobic demonization of all things French. William Osetek's rich staging honors the silly plot, daffy dialogue, and, best of all, gorgeous Gershwin classics like "Who Cares" and "Love Is Sweeping the Country." Michael Gutrich and Kelly Anne Clark make cunning cutups as the First Couple, Christine Sherrill is magnificently menacing as the jilted pageant winner, and Dale Benson steals the show as vice president Alexander Throttlebottom, so self-effacing he's practically invisible. --Lawrence Bommer Drury Lane Oakbrook, Roosevelt and Butterfield, Oakbrook Terrace, 630-530-0111. Through 1/2: Wed 8 PM, Thu 2 and 8 PM, Fri 8:30 PM, Sat 5:30 and 9 PM, Sun 2:30 and 7 PM. $22-$26; dinner-show packages available.
THE PASSION OF THE BUSH: AN ELECTION PLAY Theater Oobleck's sprawling political satire--shaped by the Odyssey, the 1960 film Spartacus, and passion plays--is much smarter than its title. The key to the show's success is Guy Massey as George W. Bush--hips thrust forward, forehead wrinkled in puzzlement, bestriding the world like an idiot colossus. (KK) Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western, 773-347-1041. Through 10/31: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM. Then Mon 11/1, 8 PM. $10; "more if you've got it, free if you're broke."
POLITICAL CRAP The Second City Training Center's scruffy showcase space offers a frequently changing lineup of shows by students, alumni, and guest artists. Thu 10:30 PM, through 10/28: Political Crap, a program of political humor by All World Cowboys, shares a bill with the sketch show Shock and Awe Hell Naw! Second City Training Center, Donny's Skybox Studio, Piper's Alley, 1608 N. Wells (fourth floor), 312-337-3992 or 877-778-4707.
SECOND CITY VETERANS FOR TRUTH: AN ELECTION YEAR REVUE Second City Theatricals presents a satiric sketch show that "cannot promise to be funnier than Alan Keyes but will try its best," according to a press release. Jim Carlson directs. Chicago Historical Society, 1601 N. Clark, 312-337-3992. Opens Sat 10/9, 8:30 PM. Through 10/30: Sat 8:30 PM. Then Tue 11/2, 8 PM. $15.
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES Experimental Theatre Chicago presents a new ensemble-created movement-based work examining "how we, as Americans, connect to our national identity." Spareroom, 2416 W. North, 312-388-7660. Opens Fri 10/22, 8 PM. Through 10/30: Fri-Sat 8 PM. Then Mon 11/1, 8 PM. $12.
W! Tom Mula stars in his own comedy about President Bush. Composer Steve Rashid teamed up with Mula to write the songs; Steve Scott directs for Theater Wit. This simplistic bit of satire trots out all the familiar gripes against our "Texas kind of prez": caters to the wealthy, tramples the environment, lacks brainpower. Only the occasional eye-opening fact--the average personal wealth of Bush's cabinet members is $10.9 million--raises the evening above a potshot. Mula's gleeful performance lacks polish, the staging is bumpy, the tuneful songs seem largely unarranged, and the maudlin finale, sung in the persona of a soldier's mother, is as cheap as the jingoistic Republican rhetoric Mula ridicules. (JHa) Bailiwick Repertory, Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090. Through 10/31: Thu 8 PM, Fri 9:30 PM, Sat 7 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. $26.
THE (W)HOLE THING It's hard to imagine a messier or more eccentric take on 9/11 and the Bush administration's various wars on terror than John Green's political farce, in which three women set out to achieve world peace by "taking the balls" from a trio of testosterone-poisoned world leaders. Set in an alternate universe remarkably like our own, the story provides plenty of opportunities to poke fun at dim-witted, self-serving warmongers, all of whom use organized religion to rationalize murder. ("Maim! Kill! God is love!" goes one war cry.) For all his inventiveness, however, Green never finds a consistent comic tone: parts of the play are sly and satirical while others are broad and Three Stooges-like. Chad Eric Bergman's loud, busy, low-budget production accentuates the vulgar in this sometimes brilliant send-up. --Jack Helbig Stage Left Theatre, 3408 N. Sheffield, 773-883-8830. Through 11/6: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM. Tue 11/2, 7 PM. $18-$22; industry night Thu 10/7.
Disclaimer: None of the above reviews are mine. They are taken from area publications and websites.
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