Oli Fuller
Lighthearted silly fun, with an excellent performance from Leigh Douglas.
ROTUS: Receptionist of the United States follows Chastity Quirke as she goes from sorority head to political acomplice, hired to eavesdrop under the Drumpf government. She has a ditsy persona but is deeply intelligent and intends to use her fly on the wall position to empower the Republican Party.
Despite this shows name, this piece is deeply apolitical, only occasionally referencing the Republican Party and changing names of political leaders, never truly going into depth or providing any political commentry. I found this surprising and disappointing for a show that is very much advertised as a political piece.
In the final moments of the show Chastity has an epiphany and realises the harm that the party she supports is doing, but this epiphany is triggered by her realisation that they don’t like her even though she is a conventionally attractive straight white woman, admitting she was willing to stay silent as the Republicans oppressed minority groups as it did not effect her. It felt as if the political messaging was an afterthought, and even as someone who is not particularly educated in American politics, I did not learn anything from this show.
The plot was engaging and I particularly enjoyed the lighting design, as all colours remained red, white and blue in line with the american iconography of the show.
This show is a lot of fun, even if it fails to provide any political commentary.
Recommended Drink: Pair this with A Whiteclaw with your Sorority Girls.
You can catch ROTUS: Receptionist of the United States until August 24th at Snug at Gilded Balloon Patter House from 15:40 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jasmine Silk
Phoebe Bakker
