BWW Reviews: Milwaukee Rep's World Premiere Reveals Top Politicians are Merely Men

Number 1, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and a currently in office 42--these numbers represent five presidents and two portraits placed in a holding pen, a room, before Richard Nixon's (37) funeral on April 18,1994 in Yorba Linda, California. The men often identify each other by numbers instead of their names in Milwaukee Rep's World Premiere of Five Presidents.

The Rep commissioned popular, award-winning writer Rick Cleveland to pen Five Presidents in collaboration with Arizona Theatre Company for the Milwaukee stage. Eighty minutes pass minus an intermission while Special Secret Service Agent Michael Kirby (Reese Madigan) escorts the Presidents one by one into a room based on an almost exact replica designed by Todd Edward Ivins from the actual Nixon Presidential library. Only Ivins constructed this set in skewed perspective-except for one detail--a portrait of the the first president, Number 1 George Washington hangs in the room, overseeing them all. Perhaps the room's odd angles foreshadow what the audience will be experiencing, a skewed perspective on the presidency

While entertaining and sometimes incredibly funny, the play discusses the Presidents' takes on what the public and pundits (definition: a learned person derived from the Hindu language) have posited, Cleveland presents his own version of what these five men in this exclusive club might have discussed, while alternately remaining enjoyable for audiences. This day however, revisited a momentous occasion when one of them died, Richard Nixon, or 'Tricky Dick," Nixon being the only president to resign.

Number 38 Gerald Ford (Jeff Steitzer) arrives first, ruminating about his pardon of Nixon that ruined his chances for re-election. One by one the presidents reveal themselves in numerical order, with 39 Jimmy Carter (Martin L'Herault) demonstrating quiet assurance, followed by 40 Ronald Reagan (Steve Sheridan), beginning to show the first signs of Alzheimer's. Enter 41 George H. W. Bush (Mark Jacoby), stinging with resentment from his loss to 42 Bill Clinton (Brit Whittle), the newly elected Commander in Chief entering last, complaining about his low first year approval rating.

Women remain excluded from this elite club, out of this league, except as the back up. First Ladies to these Presidents merely mentioned with or without affection by their spouses. Many of the presidents on this day forego wearing their wedding rings, although ironically Clinton wears his, revealing the exact details of the event. This perspective blatantly throws in the gender card, and the banter surrounding these men's discussions, where women replay their age old roles of mistresses, Gennifer Flowers and Marilyn Monroe, or when Ford comments about Betty's rehabilitation. One president even seriously says to the other, "You're the President of the United States, you can screw anyone you want. Choose with discretion, choose wisely."

In hindsight, wise words for Clinton, and what has been proven is Reagan wrote devoted letters to his wife Nancy. Betty opened two doors, literally, when the general public accepted without shame rehabilitation for prescription drugs with a clinic named in her honor, and afterwards, speaking about breast cancer, creating more awareness for these women's issues, in that decade underfunded. Tricia and Julie Nixon watched the father they loved resign from the highest office in America with sorrow, wondering what his enduring legacy would be.

These women stand and stood behind or beside these supposedly great men, who in Cleveland's comic play, reveal they are but men, human men, with weakness on display at all times. Clinton remembers this when he says, "There was a day when the presidents, like JFK, enjoyed a degree of confidentiality," when the office was respected for holding the leader of the Free World. A touching moment reiterated when Clinton repeats what Bush writes in a personal note to him as he takes over the Oval Office, "I wish you well. Your success is our country's success."

Wise words for any man, or perhaps woman, wishing to take over America's lonely leadership where the career choice "makes you fit for nothing afterwards" and "ages you in dog years, seven for every one in office," Truths reminding audiences the American Presidency is more than one liners, political misteps for gossip tabloids, or laughable skits on "Saturday Night Live." Cleveland treads a fine line in his play, and there's deeper meaning to be mined in these dissuasions, although then the play might be more provocative than hilarious. Fortunately, Artistic Director Mark Clements carefully oversees the play's more poignant moments.

While Washington, Number 1 George, presides over the room, the audience may wish to delve further into what they really think about their presidents, what they want from them, and the number one office itself. What will they expect in the future despite Cleveland's skewed look at the past? With women representing more positions in politics, governorships and congressional seats than ever before, and two women possibly positioned for a presidential run, perhaps another dimension might unfold in the next election.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal numbered the reasons why women might make better Presidents, and perhaps number 45 will be feminine, an oval office where the presidency will represent humanity instead of merely men. Cleveland's and The Rep's exceptionally entertaining world premiere makes audiences chuckle and laugh with what has past...America waits for the day when Five Presidents represents masculine and feminine perspectives, a true reflection of the political and national constituency.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents the World Premiere of Five Presidents in the Quadracci Powerhouse at the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex through April 5. For further information, season subscriptions for 2015-2016 or tickets, please call 414.224.9490 or www.milwaukeerep.com

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