Political Jabs in shows

With today being super tuesday I was wondering what musicals have political jokes in them, i know Avenue q and spelling bee do

RENT mentions Newt Gingrich's lesbian sister. At the time the show premiered, when the new Republican congress was in session, Newt Gingrich was a household name. Since he had such conservative politics, the media jumped on the chance to report that he had a lesbian sister.

---

In the original version of KISS ME KATE, the character of Harrison Howell, Lili's suitor, was a senator. There was a scene where she's talking on the phone with him which contains several jokes about the govenment and references to political figures of the early 1950's. The recent revival changed his character to an army general.

LIL' ABNER has the hilarious song "This Country's in the Very Best of Hands" that makes fun of politicians. Ir also has characters like Mayor Dawgmeat and Senator Jack. S. Phogbound.

BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE GOES PUBLIC had a right wing sentor named "A. Harry Hardast".

The gay revue WHEN PIGS FLY had a song in which a young man laments that he always falls for the wrong type of guy. He sings three versions throughout the show - one about Rush Limbaugh, one about Newt Gingrich and one about Strom Thurmond.

Updated On: 2/5/08 at 04:45 PM

Pippin, of course has one, when Pippin is crowned king, and calls for "limited police action".

---

Hairspray.

When Tracy is in jail, and she finds out that Velma talked the governor into forcing her into solitary confinement for the entirety of the Miss Teenage Hairspray contest, she says:

"Manipulating our judicial system just to win a contest... is unamerican!"

---

From "Wicked" - WHEN I SEE DEPRESSING CREATURES
WITH UNPREPOSSESSING FEATURES
I REMIND THEM ON THEIR OWN BEHALF
TO THINK OF
CELEBRATED HEADS OF STATE OR
SPECIALLY GREAT COMMUNICATORS
DID THEY HAVE BRAINS OR KNOWLEDGE?
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!



Ronald Reagan was known as the Great Communicator. That's just off the top of my head, but there are a few.

I remember seeing Annie Warbucks YEARS ago in Los Angeles - this was before the New York version -

Anyway... There was a scene at the White House in the garden and gardeners where coming in and out while FDR was talking to someone about something. At one point FDR notices the gardeners and instructs them to:

Get rid of the Bushes! I don't want to see anymore of those Bushes at the White House!"

The audience applauded. Of course he was refering to George H. W.

Sadly no one could have anticipated George W.

---

Little Edie tells us that that wars shouldn't be allowed and that "your full length velvet glove hides the fist." Two more political jabs from Grey Gardens.

Jekyll and Hyde jabs at the upper class London society a lot.

Kiss of the Spiderwoman is most likely about the Argentine Dirty War and thus a reference to Videla's tyranny.

---

in August: Osage County, the beginning of Act 3
KAREN: I just can't believe your world view is that dark.
IVY: You live in Florida.

and

Avenue Q.."George Bush! is only for now.."

Updated On: 2/5/08 at 06:57 PM

my apologies.

I can't think of the exact quote, but Tick Tick Boom has a crack at Bush Sr. Something about the 90s being boring and uneventful, for example, George Bush is the president.

And High Fidelity had a little cartoony picture of Bush Jr on the side of the set on a brick wall, as if it were graffiti. I think it's visible in the picture with the CD if you look carefully off to the right.

Billy Elliot. There's even a song about the lady in question - Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher.