- Title: USA-CLINTON THE MUSICAL 'Clinton: The Musical' debuts off-Broadway
- Date: 2nd April 2015
- Summary: KERRY BUTLER, ACTRESS WHO PLAYS HILLARY IN "CLINTON: THE MUSICAL" ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 17th April 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA21F3Y63UC37LERHPINZVKWUW4
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: "Clinton: The Musical," a bawdy, raucous show that features two Bills and parodies the sex scandal that rocked the White House in the late '90s, revisits New York City in its off-Broadway debut.
Critics have described the show that premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland in 2012 before transferring to London as "witty, quirky" and a "delicious political satire."
The musical depicts Bill and Hillary Clinton's attempts to save the presidency following his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and features two actors playing the dual sides of the former president.
"We think everybody had fun, I mean certainly the people that we talk about in this play did not come see it, I don't imagine they will with this one either although that would be a blast," said Duke Lafoon, the actor who plays the carefree side of Bill Clinton.
"I think everybody whose story we're telling have heard it all in terms of, not these jokes, but on this topic, so yeah I think they're thick skinned about it at this point. I think we had a great time this summer and I think we're going to have a much better time here."
Lafoon, as Billy, is "the impetuous kid, and also the side that gets him into trouble," he said.
Karl Kenzler, as WJ Clinton, is the idealistic politician who genuinely wants to change the country and help his fellow man.
"I'm WJ, the politician of the two, the politician half as opposed to the fun loving half," he said.
The production was written by Australian brothers Paul and Michael Hodge.
The musical premiered in New York last year at the New York Musical Theatre Festival and followed the publication of Hillary Clinton's memoir "Hard Choices."
"The show since the New York Musical Theatre Festival, only two songs are the same in what was the first act, everything else has been rewritten so there's been a huge amount of change over that time," said Paul Hodge.
"That's just to do with both making the show better and there's been a lot going on in politics in the past year so we've kind of tried to keep up with that."
The show also features Lewinsky, former Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich and Kenneth Starr, the special prosecutor who issued a report on the scandal.
Paul Hodge decided to write the musical after seeing a play in Australia with his family about a former Australian prime minister. The idea emerged when his dad suggested that Clinton's story would make a great musical.
"I think we poke fun at everyone," Hodge said.
"I think that's what comedy is, and it's not with any kind of political purpose, it's just looking at people as human being and human beings are funny so that's what we're aiming to do."
Hodge was initially reluctant about having two actors play the former U.S. leader, as suggested by his brother, until he read Clinton's autobiography.
For the two actors who play Bill, the dynamics of the play provides a unique challenge.
"Clinton: The Musical" opens off-Broadway at New World Stages in New York City on April 9. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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