Party Vote: Washington Improv Theater's 'POTUS Among Us'

WITH ALL THE TOOTHY SMILES, pressed suits and tricks up political sleeves, some may say that the Democratic National Convention was a real circus.

But what if the vice presidential candidate was a grizzly bear and a main platform issue was to put a national park on top of the White House?

That's the case with the Washington Improv Theater's "POTUS Among Us," a show that puts the electoral process where it belongs — in the hands of an unsuspecting audience.

Five improvising presidential candidates receive suggestions for platform issues, and chaos ensues until one is chosen. At our viewing, a vice presidential bear ate most of the reporters (aside from the one who was in bed with the president), and a candidate gave his young son a one-way ticket to pedophile trucker country as a sacrificial gesture for America.

It couldn't happen here ... or could it?

We spoke with director Mark Chalfant about "POTUS Among Us."

» EXPRESS: Wait, so there won't be a bear in all the shows?
» CHALFANT: Definitely not, which is a shame, because it was nice to see a candidate we can all get behind.

» EXPRESS: What components remain the same in each show?
» CHALFANT: The five candidates at the top of each show will do a stump speech five seconds after they read the issue on a card. Then we'll narrow it down to two or three. At the end, the audience will elect a president or ruin the republic with the failure to do so.

» EXPRESS: Do you think the show will influence D.C. voters' decisions?
» CHALFANT: If a bear were elected through some write-in campaign, I would feel guilty. After the show, I hope they rationally analyze a candidate. Pretty please.

» EXPRESS: What have been some of your favorite presidential characters or platforms during rehearsals?
» CHALFANT: One candidate was trying to bring back prohibition, and the challenge was that she was in AA and was having really a tough time.

» EXPRESS: Not only are you directing improv, but you're also directing presidential candidates.
» CHALFANT: When you boil it down, the process of running for office and the process of trying to improvise as a candidate character really aren't that different. There are a lot of dirty tricks, mudslinging and attack ads.

» EXPRESS: And WIT's back at the newly remodeled Source Theatre.
» CHALFANT: Yes, this is the first play back at the Source. It's fantastic! The great thing about being at Source is the 14th and U [streets] neighborhood. It's a younger, grittier neighborhood, which is more like us.

» EXPRESS: What was the last thing that really annoyed you?
» CHALFANT: Cold coffee — grr. So my platform would be capital punishment for people who leave coffee sitting out cold. Or maybe if you wanted to be merciful, remedial worker camps.

» Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW; Fridays & Saturdays through Sept. 27, 8 p.m., $15; 202-204-7770. (U St.-Cardozo)

Written by Express contributor Robyn Mincher
Photos courtesy Washington Improv Theater