If you really want to understand the culture war currently being fought out in America, all you need to do is observe the reaction of Donald Trump’s surrogates to artistic efforts designed to update classical theater.  The latest example was Bill O’Reilly’s tweet during the NBC presentation of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

In the latest version of “Stand by Your Man,” Chrissy Teigen,  wife of performer John Legend who starred in the title role, replied, “Yes, the shop specializes in coverups that aren’t 32 million dollars.”

NBC’s holiday special is just the latest in a long history of making classical theater relevant to a new generation.  In 1988, Joseph Papp staged “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” in turn of the century Brazil instead of ancient Athens.  In 1995, Richard Loncraine directed Ian McKellen and Annette Bening in a version of “Richard III,” as a commentary on how a fascist alternative in 1930s England might have emerged during the worldwide depression.  Sometimes understanding the deeper meaning behind a theatrical work requires witnessing the story in two time-frames within the same production.  Such is the case in Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George.”

But of course, no play has been interpreted in so many different styles or set in so many diverse locales as Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”  In 1996, Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes portrayed the star-crossed lovers in modern day Verona Beach.  Or Jerome  Robbins and Robert Wise’s Oscar winning musical translation of this tale of forbidden love to the streets of New York City, West Side Story.  And with each update, there remains the same lingering question, “What could possibly be the next iteration?”  I’m glad you asked.

Dear readers, be prepared to experience “West Wing Story,” the unrequited love between the leaders of two adversarial nations who just want to be left alone to pursue their dreams of global domination.  This new production was scheduled to open in January 2017, but ran into numerous problems during its pre-Broadway run.  Some of the financing had been frozen.  Several of the actors have been indicted or pleaded guilty to crimes.  Having never been rewarded for their efforts, others in the original cast jumped ship and auditioned for other musicals, including Les Deplorables, My Fair Porn Star, The Lyin’ King, Avenue K and Melania Mia!

But fear not, West Wing Story is coming to a courtroom near you.  And just to whet your appetite, let me share the casting and a few of the hit songs from the soundtrack.

CAST

• Tony/Vladimir Putin
• Maria/Donald J. Trump
• Riff/Steve Bannon
• Lieutenant Schrank/Robert Muller
• Officer Krupke/James Comey
• Bernardo/Jared Kushner
• Anita/Ivanka Trump
• Ice/Kellyanne Conway
• Baby John/Jeff Sessions
• Doc/Ronny Jackson

SELECT SONGS FROM THE SOUNDTRACK

• “Somethings Coming” – The Washington Post & New York Times Ensemble
• “Cool-Aid” – Riff, Ice & Baby John
• “Amerika” – Tony & Maria
• “A Goy Like That” – Bernardo & Anita
• “I Feel Petty” – Maria

Spoiler Alert!  Regardless of the age of the actors in each staging — Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer in 1936 to Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey in 1968, the ending is always the same.  The unintentional but inevitable demise of the two lovers.  And in the vein of the original Shakespeare, Lieutenant Schranks (aka Bob Mueller) will close the final scene with words similar to those of Prince Escalus of Verona:

Go hence, and speak no more of these sad things; 
Some shall be granted immunity, but many punished: 
For never was a story more disgusting and phoney
Than this of Maria and his Tony.

For What It’s Worth.
Dr. ESP