THEATER REVIEW | 'THE MISS EDUCATION OF JENNA BUSH' (NYT)

NYT Theater section ^ | Aug 19, 2005 | Jason Zinoman

[summer]

First daughter: [Actress] Melissa Rauch
[as Jenna Bush] in "The Miss Education of Jenna Bush."

Jenna Bush reportedly has a standing invitation to see "The Miss Education of Jenna Bush," a 10-minute comedy sketch stretched to 90 fluffy minutes, and while it seems far-fetched that the first daughter would attend, if she did, there is a chance - believe it or not - that she would like it.

Set on the eve of her first day as a public school teacher, the monologue, which has been drawing big crowds to the Village Theater, takes place in her Georgetown apartment, which she shares with her twin sister, Barbara....

As played by the stand-up comedian Melissa Rauch, Jenna is a good-natured party girl in the midst of a coming-of-age crisis. All of a sudden, after her giddy high school years and a raucous time at college, people expect her to, like, grow up.

It's easy to read this play as more about the president than his daughter. ... Ms. Bush mangles the English language using words like "accountabilistic" and "abruptively." The seriousness of her sister (read: Jeb), who has a less wild reputation, is a source of resentment and gentle ridicule....

The president is right to shield his children from the press, but by doing so, the public hears about them only when they show up in the tabloids or in shows like this. "Miss Education" may take a few cheap shots at Ms. Bush, but it also tries to humanize her - and, by extension, her father. It's probably the closest thing to a pro-Bush play at the Fringe Festival.

[summer]

I haven't seen this play but, I am curious, and I would like to see it. From the end of the review:

"The Miss Education of Jenna Bush" will be presented on Sunday at noon, Thursday at 7:15 p.m. and next Friday at 2 p.m. at the Village Theater, 158 Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village, (212) 279-4488.

[summer]

BTW, here's another play, coming to Off-Broadway,, that I was surprised to see advertised recently in the NYT:

The Great Trailer Park Musical

(PS - This site above is a bit slow to load, but it's interesting -- once you skip the intro and it's loaded)

[zip]

Does ms raunch have any previous acting credits?

[bikepacker67]

How about a theatrical performance named "the Bastard Birth of Chelsea Clinton"?

Who'd play Uncle Vince?

[summer]

The article mentioned she is a stand up comic. But you could look her up on the internet to see what else she's done. I don't know her background.

[summer]

Well, I don't know what to say to that!

[AmishDude]

Forgive me for not believing the reviewer, but this sounds like a petty and meanspirited tantrum to me.

[summer]

Actually, I think this reviewer is attempting to be as nice as possible. :)

[summer]

I just realized you were talking about the show! (Not the review.) And, yes, it probably has some jokes aimed at Jenna Bush, but perhaps in a good natured -- and not mean-spirited -- way. I am just guessing.

[cake_crumb]

So it's not really about Jenna and Barbara at all, but an analogy to their father and his brother? It might be better than the requisite political commentary makes it sound, but the review sort of ruins it for me. Clinton kept Chelsea out of the spotlight, but I never heard of a play that was comedic or dramatic dedicated to her.

[summer]

That's true; I never heard of Chelsea portrayed as a character in a play.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[zip]

She has some great credits as a writer as well as stand up comic. Search netted a lot of info.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for the ping...she has a pretty good web site and does seem funny. And she's a Jersey girl!

[montag813]

Jenna Bush has been "caught" only using a fake ID to buy beer. She has never been nailed publicly drunk or disorderly. Contrast this to Chelsea Clinton, who was imfamously photographed falling down drunk in her fiance's arms outside a London club, and then snapped face down int he back of a limosine. Where is the "Miseducation of Chelsea Clinton" play?

[kitkat]

Yep, it's really good natured to show the actress as Jenna with a cabinet with five bottles of booze next to her. /s

[cf_river_rat]

Yep, it's really good natured to show the actress as Jenna with a cabinet with five bottles of booze next to her. /s

Don't forget the beer keg with the bra strewn across it. Yep, this play is sure to be dog-gone funny. Like kidney stones.