"Rotus," the latest one-woman show by Irish-American comedian Leigh Douglas, has landed in London at a time when US politics is as unpredictable as ever. The show's themes of sexism, authoritarianism, and the allure of power couldn't be more timely.
The show revolves around Chastity Quirke, a sorority girl turned White House receptionist working for none other than Ronald Drumpf. Played by Douglas with unbridled energy and humor, Chastity is a quintessential MAGA girl - all about conserving traditional values and flaunting her patriotism. The audience is invited to scream if they believe in making America "hot again" and are treated to a provocative dance routine that's equal parts cringe-worthy and mesmerizing.
As the show progresses, Douglas skillfully reveals Chastity's more nuanced side. While she may seem like just a token female presence in the Drumpf administration, Chastity is determined to do her job - even if it means going against her boss's questionable values. However, as she gets closer to uncovering his sinister plot to stay in office beyond two terms, Chastity must decide whether to follow orders or speak truth to power.
Directed by Fiona Kingwill, the show features Douglas effortlessly switching between Chastity and a range of other characters - from Drumpf's menacing male assistants to sprightly female staff members. The sparse set proves flexible enough to adapt to each new persona without feeling too restrictive.
While the show starts off as a hilarious romp, it eventually loses some of its bite. As the gags become more obvious and the satire less biting, the pacing falters, leaving the audience teetering on the edge of their seats. The show's climax is tense but feels abrupt, squashing what could have been some truly biting commentary.
Despite these missteps, there's still plenty to appreciate about "Rotus." Douglas and Kingwill have nailed the essence of MAGA feminism - not just a desire for physical beauty, but also a hunger for power. As the show comes to a close, it leaves audiences with a lot to think about - particularly in the wake of US politics' current state of uncertainty.
The show revolves around Chastity Quirke, a sorority girl turned White House receptionist working for none other than Ronald Drumpf. Played by Douglas with unbridled energy and humor, Chastity is a quintessential MAGA girl - all about conserving traditional values and flaunting her patriotism. The audience is invited to scream if they believe in making America "hot again" and are treated to a provocative dance routine that's equal parts cringe-worthy and mesmerizing.
As the show progresses, Douglas skillfully reveals Chastity's more nuanced side. While she may seem like just a token female presence in the Drumpf administration, Chastity is determined to do her job - even if it means going against her boss's questionable values. However, as she gets closer to uncovering his sinister plot to stay in office beyond two terms, Chastity must decide whether to follow orders or speak truth to power.
Directed by Fiona Kingwill, the show features Douglas effortlessly switching between Chastity and a range of other characters - from Drumpf's menacing male assistants to sprightly female staff members. The sparse set proves flexible enough to adapt to each new persona without feeling too restrictive.
While the show starts off as a hilarious romp, it eventually loses some of its bite. As the gags become more obvious and the satire less biting, the pacing falters, leaving the audience teetering on the edge of their seats. The show's climax is tense but feels abrupt, squashing what could have been some truly biting commentary.
Despite these missteps, there's still plenty to appreciate about "Rotus." Douglas and Kingwill have nailed the essence of MAGA feminism - not just a desire for physical beauty, but also a hunger for power. As the show comes to a close, it leaves audiences with a lot to think about - particularly in the wake of US politics' current state of uncertainty.
I saw Rotus and was really surprised by how relatable Chastity's struggles felt. Like, who hasn't had to deal with sexist crap at work? And the way Leigh Douglas pokes fun at MAGA feminism without being too mean is pretty spot on. What I didn't love as much was how the show's tone kinda switched from funny to serious - it was like they were trying to tackle two big issues in one show and lost some of that bite. Still, it's a solid commentary on power dynamics and sexism, and I loved seeing Chastity grow beyond just being a "token girl" 
, and the next I'm feeling like I need to take a deep breath and process everything that just happened 
. Leigh Douglas's performance is insane - she's got this energy that's both infectious and super uncomfortable at the same time ouch 
. And can we talk about Fiona Kingwill's direction? She's gotta be a genius or something 
how does she keep all these characters straight?! It's like trying to keep up with my own thoughts sometimes 
. But yeah, I do think Rotus has some major issues - the pacing could be tighter and some of the jokes feel a bit forced 
.
I mean I love Leigh Douglas's energy but some parts felt like she was trying too hard? Like Chastity Quirke, right? I get what the show is going for with MAGA feminism but sometimes it felt like it was hitting me over the head 
Leigh Douglas is literally hilarious and so talented! I was on the edge of my seat when Chastity figured out Drumpf's scheme, but that ending felt a bit rushed 
Overall though, it's such an important show tackling those really timely themes like sexism & authoritarianism. Can't wait to see what Douglas does next 
! The energy she brings to that stage is infectious! But what really stood out to me was how relatable Chastity's struggles are, even if we're not dealing with the same level of crazy as the Drumpf admin 
. I mean, who hasn't felt pressured to conform just to get ahead? It's like they say, "the devil is in the details" 
... and sometimes, that takes a lot of courage 
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Douglas's energy is infectious but some jokes feel forced after 5 shows 
Still, her commentary on feminism & power is spot on 
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. Overall though, I'd say Rotus is like that iconic finale of Black Mirror where the twist hits you right in the gut 
. My only gripe is that the show's pacing gets a bit wonky towards the end... it's like, you get the joke, but then what? Can we have a more satisfying payoff? 