Stage Joins Hollywood Lefties in the Fight Against Trump

September 27th, 2016 11:42 AM

Hollywood isn’t the only form of entertainment attacking Donald Trump. Now, theaters around the country have joined the fight.  

According to a New York Times article published September 25, Tony Taccone and Bennett S. Cohen of the Berkeley Repertory Theater have created a new adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here, which explores the concept of Americans electing their first dictator. The novel was inspired by the rise of fascism, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

“A vain politician runs for the presidency, short on specifics but long on bluster, inveighing against a religious minority and promising to make America prosperous again,” The New York Times stated. “Sound familiar?” My guess is they’re not referring to President Obama or Hillary Clinton.

The play is meant to “provoke discussion and reflection about this year’s unusual election, and the unease that it has exposed,” and by that they mean the play “explicitly aim[s] to prompt discussion about Donald J. Trump, whose candidacy has alarmed many…”

“Art shouldn’t fall into any kind of simplistic didactic haranguing, and topicality is a dangerous thing, because you always get outstripped by reality,” said Taccone, “However…with the election looming, it felt incumbent on us to respond if we could.” So, art shouldn’t really lecture people on their political views, but please allow this play, which closes two days before the election, to lecture you on your political views. Self-righteous liberalism at its finest.

The novel is about newspaper editor Doremus Jessup who runs for president against demagogic populist Berzelius Windrip. Windrip campaigns for drastic economic and social changes while promoting patriotism and traditional values. However, once he wins the presidency, he becomes a dictator, banning all dissent and placing America under military rule.

The New York Times stated, “There are some striking similarities between the campaign pitches by the fictional Mr. Windrip and the real Mr. Trump”. Ignoring the fact that Windrip is a Democrat and Trump is a Republican, Windrip is “prone to warnings against Jews” while Trump “has focused his concern on Muslims.” Is Trump really more likely to ban dissent than the party that controls most of mainstream media and supported the Fairness Doctrine? Is Trump calling for drastic economic changes, or the party that almost nominated a socialist?

For inspiration for the new adaptation, Taccone and Cohen watched Trump stump speeches. They even referenced Clintons’ “basket of deplorables” comment in the play when explaining Windrip’s popularity.

Just like Hollywood though, there isn’t just one play bashing Trump. They all are!

Mike Daisey, who has no misgivings about calling the Republican Party racist, is performing his anti-Trump monologue “The Trump Card” around the country. A play called “Ivanka: A Medea for Right Now” describes Trump’s daughter’s fictional turn away from him. Others such as “Let Trump Be Trump” and “Vicuña” also satirize Trump. Additional plays that are popular right now include “The Trial of an American President” and “The Whipping Boy and His Prince,” which both ridicule President George Bush.

“It’s an outrageous story,” said an “It Can’t Happen Here” actor, “But you can’t watch it and not think it’s plausible.” But of course, with Trump catching up in the polls, isn’t that the point?

Tell the Truth 2016