by Julz Burgisser
Trump is back, with a follow up show to his Smash Hit The President, this time Trump is digging deep and revealing his true inner turmoil about his ‘very tough’ life. He’s got a story to tell, unlike any we’ve heard before and he’s going to take us way behind the scenes to do so. Also, his dad never liked him and it’s really not very fair that he doesn’t have any friends.
Alexander Sparrow, World Top 10 Trump impersonator as selected by Laugh Factory, Hollywood, has written, directed and performed a show that is guaranteed to be a huuge hit, believe me.
Alexander Sparrow, World Top 10 Trump impersonator as selected by Laugh Factory, Hollywood, has written, directed and performed a show that is guaranteed to be a huuge hit, believe me.
The show starts with a audio clip, covering the range of reactions to the presidency so far, clipped into a sassy commentary that gets the audience laughing. It’s a clever start as it sets us at ease, this isn’t going to be a serious rally of hard hitting social statements, more of a funny if somewhat sad snap of the times we now find ourselves living in.
Then here comes our President, in the predictable navy blue outfit and phallically reminiscent red tie. He confidently strides through the audience, feeding the frenzy with handshakes and waves, finally reaching the stage where we get to soak in the whole look. It’s fantastic. Sparrow is a master of Trump impersonation. From the hair to the hands, everything is hilariously accurate and we’re ecstatic for that moment of adjustment to meet the man himself.
We find ourselves front and centre for a political rally where Trump is telling us how he got ahead in life and encouraging us to get ahead. I find myself laughing even though I’m appalled. It’s clear that we’re here to make fun and laugh in the face of so much ridiculousness. I find myself laughing so hard that I laugh out of turn and am berated in a playful way for my bad behaviour.
Sparrow has a magical way of involving an audience in the show, making you feel part of the action and that you’re also playing a character part. We were his supporters, expected to cheer at just his name and clap at the mention of building that wall! Instead we laughed at his characterization and we applauded how he was brought down to size with expert mockery in the form of imitation.
The show then takes a turn, the lights turn blue, Trump leaves the podium and the mood has dramatically changed. No more is the triumphant ego of Trump, here we see Donald and a story of his secret life. Donald takes us into his confidence as childhood traumas are released, family secrets are spilled and burning desires and revealed. He’s realising things about himself, like how he never had any friends and how that might be his dad's fault because his dad really hates him. Somehow, in a way I never imagined ever happening, along with laughing at the private life that we’ve been granted an insider's tour of, I begin to feel sorry for Donald J. Trump. His story is so pitiful and full of moments where he’s practically pleading with us to understand. I can practically feel the “Awwww…” building in my throat.
Just when you think you might have sympathy for the man in charge of making millions miserable, the lights come back up and he strides back to the podium to become ludicrous Trump who makes us laugh and groan again. This switch in tempo from Political Rally to Private Revelations is repeated throughout the show, each time building the sympathy until we’re feeling spellbound listening to his secret life and leaving us feeling tricked when he becomes the public President we know so well.
The show ends with something so hilarious, that I can’t give it away. I am going to hint that the name of the show is a dead giveaway and that I never knew that Trump had any other ambitions than to be President, so that was a real toe-tapping, side-splitting, eyeopener. Did I say too much? Are you guessing? You’ll have to go and see if you’re right.
It’s an excellent creation and performance that Sparrow executes here, to make you feel both so sorry for this man and laugh so hard at him. The character is depicted to perfection and it’s easy to see why this show meant that Sparrow was Nominated for Best Actor as well as Best Design at the 2017 Nelson Fringe Festival.
My suggestion for you, when go see the show for yourself, would be to get vocally involved when encouraged! The more you throw yourself into the fun, the better the show gets. Don’t be scared to cheer, I mean where else are you ever going to be able to do so?
And you should go see this show, absolutely. It’s a masterful performance of ridiculously hilarious imitation and it really doesn’t get better than this.
Tickets on sale here: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2017/dj-trump/wellington
Then here comes our President, in the predictable navy blue outfit and phallically reminiscent red tie. He confidently strides through the audience, feeding the frenzy with handshakes and waves, finally reaching the stage where we get to soak in the whole look. It’s fantastic. Sparrow is a master of Trump impersonation. From the hair to the hands, everything is hilariously accurate and we’re ecstatic for that moment of adjustment to meet the man himself.
We find ourselves front and centre for a political rally where Trump is telling us how he got ahead in life and encouraging us to get ahead. I find myself laughing even though I’m appalled. It’s clear that we’re here to make fun and laugh in the face of so much ridiculousness. I find myself laughing so hard that I laugh out of turn and am berated in a playful way for my bad behaviour.
Sparrow has a magical way of involving an audience in the show, making you feel part of the action and that you’re also playing a character part. We were his supporters, expected to cheer at just his name and clap at the mention of building that wall! Instead we laughed at his characterization and we applauded how he was brought down to size with expert mockery in the form of imitation.
The show then takes a turn, the lights turn blue, Trump leaves the podium and the mood has dramatically changed. No more is the triumphant ego of Trump, here we see Donald and a story of his secret life. Donald takes us into his confidence as childhood traumas are released, family secrets are spilled and burning desires and revealed. He’s realising things about himself, like how he never had any friends and how that might be his dad's fault because his dad really hates him. Somehow, in a way I never imagined ever happening, along with laughing at the private life that we’ve been granted an insider's tour of, I begin to feel sorry for Donald J. Trump. His story is so pitiful and full of moments where he’s practically pleading with us to understand. I can practically feel the “Awwww…” building in my throat.
Just when you think you might have sympathy for the man in charge of making millions miserable, the lights come back up and he strides back to the podium to become ludicrous Trump who makes us laugh and groan again. This switch in tempo from Political Rally to Private Revelations is repeated throughout the show, each time building the sympathy until we’re feeling spellbound listening to his secret life and leaving us feeling tricked when he becomes the public President we know so well.
The show ends with something so hilarious, that I can’t give it away. I am going to hint that the name of the show is a dead giveaway and that I never knew that Trump had any other ambitions than to be President, so that was a real toe-tapping, side-splitting, eyeopener. Did I say too much? Are you guessing? You’ll have to go and see if you’re right.
It’s an excellent creation and performance that Sparrow executes here, to make you feel both so sorry for this man and laugh so hard at him. The character is depicted to perfection and it’s easy to see why this show meant that Sparrow was Nominated for Best Actor as well as Best Design at the 2017 Nelson Fringe Festival.
My suggestion for you, when go see the show for yourself, would be to get vocally involved when encouraged! The more you throw yourself into the fun, the better the show gets. Don’t be scared to cheer, I mean where else are you ever going to be able to do so?
And you should go see this show, absolutely. It’s a masterful performance of ridiculously hilarious imitation and it really doesn’t get better than this.
Tickets on sale here: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2017/dj-trump/wellington