By Eva Trieger
POWAY, California — Now some folks feel that politics is no laughing matter. Our leaders must be smart, charismatic, trustworthy and cool under pressure. There is little room for levity or indecisiveness. Luckily for San Diego audiences, PowPac Theatre believes the polar opposite. Directed by Melissa Malloy, The Outsider provides a delicious comic relief to the tug-of-war we’ve been watching in this election year.
Without any partisanship, this delightful satire, penned by Paul Slade Smith, reveals the power of style over substance. Smooth operators play on the public’s gullible and sometimes naive nature to tell the people what they want. When scandal creates a vacancy in the Governor’s seat, milquetoast former Lieutenant Governor, Ned Newley (David Dartt), is called upon to fill the void. While Ned is quite accomplished in his own right, he prefers to stay behind the scenes, crunching numbers and writing policy. Though he is eminently qualified for the post, and encouraged by his lone staffer, Dave Riley (Jim Miller), the thought of public speaking dogs him.
Seizing on this opportunity to launch a career while boosting his own, is political consultant Arthur Vance (Tom DeLorenzo). Pollster Paige Caldwell (Kathryn Schellinger), has little hope for Newley’s success until Vance works his magic. To successfully stage a campaign, office support is critical. Enter Louise Peakes (Eva Kvaas) from the temp agency. Unskilled at most everything, this inept secretary with her disarming good cheer and morale boosting platitudes charms Newley and others. Reporter Rachel Parsons (Maria Boncza) and cameraman A.C. Peterson (Murphy Walsh) have surprisingly pivotal roles in the rescue and salvation of democracy.
It is really not possible to comment on the stand outs in this cast as every single one of the actors delivers a flawless, dynamic performance. Dartt has graced this stage (and others) many times and has proven, yet again, that he is versatile and deft at both verbal and physical comedy. Peakes, as the absurdly incompetent secretary, is loveable and inanely concrete in an Amelia Bedelia sort of way. The chemistry between Miller and Boncza is almost visible and therefore credible, and the sincerity of Walsh is palpable and genuine. DeLorenzo borders on slimy, perfect as the “salesman” he is, and Schellinger comes across as smart, effective and dedicated.
The Outsider reminds us that all that glitters isn’t gold, and that politics may be as much art as it is science. Or maybe we should take a page from Louise’s book and keep our political depth and breadth to the “color system.” Perhaps then, we can move from the “dark times” to “tomorrow is going to be a brighter day!” I mean, I’m no pundit, but I do love good theatre.
The Outsider runs through October 6, 2024. Tickets may be purchased at boxoffice@powpac.org or by phone at 858.679.8085.
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the coverage of the arts.
VOTE FOR LULU!