GNP's "Son of a Bush" cast plays the
National Press Club Inaugural Gala January 26, 2008
Cast members of Gross National Product's "Son of a Bush" comedy
revue were recently invited to appear at the National Press Club's
inauguration gala for Sylvia Smith, who was sworn in on January 18th as
the club's 101st president. For a video clip of the event, see our On Stage page.
Washington DC - January 1, 2008
GNP's "Son of a Bush" term-limit-ed run reopened
October 13th through December 31st, 2007
Gross National Product's "Son of a Bush" comedy revue
returned to the Washington comedy scene at the Warehouse Theater October 13th
through December 31st 2007. The two-person comedy revue played by John
Simmons and Christine Thompson skewered the news, and mostly
the antics of the Bush Administration in this hysterical and historical
satire in which this morning’s headlines turn to this evening's punch lines.
The Washington Post calls GNP "always funny" throughout
the years and the Wall Street Journal "a comedy feast." GNP
returns with an updated version of “Son of a Bush” that not only shoots
at Dick Cheney but also prominently targets Hillary Clinton the Democratic
front runner played by Christine Thompson that Nelson Pressley (Washington
Post) impersonates Hillary like "a barracuda version” and that she
“adds a bright, smug smile and impressively details responses that simultaneously
flatter and flatten her targets." In the 2001 inaugural opening of
“Son of a Bush” Eve Zibart noted that the revue "starts off strong
with John Simmons delivering a bewildering and scathing monologue as Dubya."
GNP's Son of a Bush previewed on October 13 and played Saturdays
at 8 PM at the Warehouse Theater (1021 7th Street
NW, Washington, DC across from the New Convention Center, metro stop Mt.
Vernon square; 1 block south
and Galley Place: 3 blocks north.) Ticket's were general admission $30,
seniors $25 and students $20. For information on future shows, please
call 202 783 7212.
Scandal
Tours 2007 returned to the
DC streets in the Spring of 2007 and continued Saturdays
at 1 PM through Labor Day 2007 with
a new
pickup location at
the corner of F Street and 14th Street NW near the historic
Willard Intercontinental Washington Hotel. The tour typically
runs from April Fools day until Labor Day, Saturdays at 1 PM.
Currently we are temporarily on Election Coverage Hiatus following
John McCain's Straight
talk bus around town. Stay tuned for a return to the sleazy
streets and an addition at the Mayflower Hotel. In addition,
they're still available for special engagements. See our Scandal
Tours page for more information.
Here's what the
Washington Post had to say about "Son Of A Bush" November 29, 2006.
GNP
on the Rise By Jane Horwitz Special to The Washington Post November 29, 2006
There has been no dearth of doofuses on the political scene this election year -- all fodder for John Simmons and Christine Thompson of Gross National Product. As founder of the comedy troupe, Simmons has been skewering politicos since 1979; Thompson joined in 1991. These days, the troupe has slimmed down to the duo, who are married to each other and to GNP.
Their latest show, "Son of a Bush," is a mix of scripted and improvised scenes, many with audience participation. Recently back from a run in San Diego, it plays on Saturday nights at Warehouse Theater on Seventh Street NW. Simmons says they've discovered "the
audience likes to be a part of the process. We can find out where they're leading
before the newspapers can, because they're honest."
"Son of a Bush" opens with Thompson taking a musical jab at Congress to the tune of "All That Jazz," titled "All That Graft." Simmons does a cranky, fidgety Dubya (on health care, "two words -- don't get sick"), sharing the stage with Thompson's bewigged, self-absorbed Hillary Clinton ("I've always been for and against the war").
Thompson says she has "real respect" for the senator: "She loves herself and I love her, too. . . . It takes a village, or it takes a Village People." But seriously, folks. Thompson has been spoofing Clinton for a while. During the 1996 presidential campaign, she played her and Simmons played Republican nominee Bob Dole. "How do you wake up with smeared Bob Dole makeup and [smeared] Hillary Clinton makeup and think, 'We're good bedfellows'?" she
asks dryly.
While Thompson keeps her political views more or less to herself in an interview,
Simmons makes no bones about his take on the Bush administration: "Katrina put
the nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned, showing Homeland Security couldn't
protect Americans."
Thompson recognizes that the political emergence of Nancy Pelosi as House speaker-elect
and other female leaders means she has her work cut out for her. Back in 1991,
she recalls, her roles consisted of Rep. Pat Schroeder, State Department spokeswoman
Margaret Tutwiler and Nancy Reagan. "I never in my wildest dreams, even though I hoped for this, thought there would be so many women" on
the political scene.
GNP's interactive political comedy duet John Simmons and Christine Thompson
duelled it out as George W. and Hillary Rodham Clinton and the audience
were the press gallary (of course). With the closure of the Warehouse
Theater, "Son Of A Bush" has come to an end. GNP wishes to thank all
our loyal fans and the management of the Warehouse Theater for a hugely
successful run.
GNP WINS IN A LAUGHSLIDE IN SAN DIEGO
SAN DIEGO, CA (November 9, 2006) Gross National Product's limited time
"Son of a Bush" invasion of San Diego received
rave reviews. See
the review in the San Diego Union-Tribune here. GNP played The Theatre
in Old Town in San Diego in early November, 2006.
For production art,
please contact Deb Fiscella / Center Stage Marketing at (301) 540-4842
or DFMPR@aol.com.
Gross National Product
From Headlines to Punchlines
"Making Headlines Hilarious" - San Francisco Chronicle
"First rate actors" - London Observer
"Always funny... the longest-running, most successful sketch
troupe in Washington... keeping you grinning from year to year... skewering
politicos since 1979"
- The Washington Post
"Fresh material" - Tom Brokaw, NBC News
"...Had the audience in stitches." - New York Times
"Relentless, articulate, drop-dead biting satire" -
LA Daily News
"Sharp impersonations... the city's most popular company
of satirists" - LA Times
"GNP excels at political satire" - The Baltimore
Sun
"Their skits change as fast as the headlines. DC's version
of Saturday Night Live." - NY's Daily News
"GNP creates a fresh viewpoint through incisive writing,
on-the-button characterizations and zippy timing." - LA
Weekly
"Thompson and Simmons possess unflagging energy and are quick
on their feet as improvisers." - San Diego Union-Tribune
GNP is open all year with customized reviews, impersonators,
scandal tours, and political funny business of all kinds. (202)
783-7212.
