'44 The Musical' Off-Broadway review — staging the song-and-dance of Obama-era politics
Read our review of 44 The Musical, a new show about Barack Obama's presidency, now playing at the Daryl Roth Theatre after an acclaimed run in Chicago.
Summary
- 44: The Musical is a parody of the first term of Barack Obama's presidency
- Audiences praised the show's fun factor and the cast's performances
More than a decade after Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton premiered, we are still living in the shadow of its revisionist take on American history blended with contemporary Black music stylings and its irrepressible sense of Obama-era optimism. Real-world politics may have undergone a startling transformation, but Miranda’s show continues to serve as a blueprint for shows like 44 The Musical.
However, 44 The Musical does not meet Hamilton’s structure, complexity of verse, or versatility of music. It is mostly a straightforward retelling of former President Barack Obama’s first term, the racism he faced from fellow politicians and the public, and his ultimate triumph as one of the great leaders of the free world. We are reminded incessantly that this Barack Obama (TJ Wilkins) has an “American dream,” but 44 elaborates little on what that might mean. We speed-run through his healthcare bill, spending more time with politicians like Mitch McConnell (Larry Cedar) and Lindsey Graham (Jeff Sumner) as they plot against Obama’s agenda. The audience is told the president will overcome simply because he is “motherfuckin’ Obama,” a brain-smoothing R&B refrain that repeats at least 10 times.
44 The Musical, ostensibly told through a dim-witted Joe Biden’s (Chad Doreck) “hazy” memory, has little perspective about Barack Obama’s presidency beyond the basics. True, creator/director Eli Bauman doesn’t avoid the roadblocks Obama and his political goals faced due to his race, as well as the role generations of Black folks that played in the founding of the United States, but these notes tend to be shallow and parlayed into mediocre comic bits (a song about whether Obama was “Black enough” features a grid of various Black people for skin-tone comparison) rather than adding dimension to character, theme, or plot.
The show plows on for 2 hours and 20 minutes with old-hat jokes (and some anachronistic material, like Joe Biden saying “Wakanda Forever” even though Black Panther didn’t come out until after Obama’s presidency): Lindsay Graham is a prancing, parasol-carrying, and pretentious Southerner. Hillary Clinton (Jenna Pastuszek) is an embittered woman who never “got her turn.” Sarah Palin (Summer Collins) is a sexpot with a star-spangled bra who shrieks “drill me, baby.”
44 The Musical doesn’t seem to understand what these people believe in, even if they are caricatures, and one is left wondering what a more original satire of the era might look like. A song about bombing Osama Bin Laden and a platitude about how “they would rather watch a Black man fail than the country succeed” aside, 44: The Musical has little idea of Obama's platform, his flaws, or what his complex legacy means.
44 The Musical summary
Former Obama campaign staffer Eli Bauman’s hagiography of Barack Obama loosely covers his campaign for the presidency, including the racist attacks he faced, as well as the obstacles he encountered trying to work with the House on agenda items like healthcare and gun control. His political adversaries, like Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and Lindsey Graham, do everything in their power to stop him.
What to expect at 44 The Musical
Though 44: The Musical's material is subpar, many of the performances are nothing if not extremely committed. Performers like Shanice (as Michelle Obama) and Summer Nicole Greer (as the Voice of the People, a Rosie the Riveter-like character) show off impressive vocal athleticism that elevates the bland and repetitive R&B score.
Chad Doreck’s Biden gets an impressive amount of mileage from his dancing and physicality on stage. Miss James Alsop’s choreography is energetic and fairly dynamic, mixing doo-wop and hip-hop movements, and the irony of Doreck embodying these movements with utter sincerity is amusing.
What audiences are saying about 44 The Musical
As of publication, 44 The Musical has an 82% audience approval rating on Show-Score, aggregated from nine reviews from theatregoers who praised the show's cast and fun factor.
- “Some fun songs, but too long and tonally uneven. This gives the vibe of a light parody musical, but its 2.5 hour duration is too much for that. And while most of the songs and dialogue are lighthearted, there is a tribute to the Newtown shooting that is whiplash-inducing.” - Show-Score user Erin F 3
- “We loved the show! Spirited, funny, goofy, extremely entertaining – with a wonderful cast.” - Show-Score user Sue 8338
- “A parody of Obama’s first term, with both poignant and hilarious scenes. Great music and voices, clever jokes and the occasional low-brow nugget. A great cast, with supporting zany characters such as Palin on a pole and Lindsay Graham toting a parasol.” - Show-Score user aka
Read more audience reviews of 44 The Musical on Show-Score.
Who should see 44 The Musical
- Miss James Alsop’s choreography has got the moves and is entertaining to see live.
- Summer Nicole Greer is an exceptional vocalist, and her vocal riffs and runs fill the room with energy.
- Chad Doreck’s turn as Joe Biden is gonzo, bizarre, and worth checking out.
Learn more about 44 The Musical
Though it features dedicated performances, 44: The Musical’s satirical take on former President Barack Obama falters with repetitive music, scattershot humor, and a thin point of view.
Photo credit: 44 The Musical off Broadway. (Photos by Jenny Anderson)
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