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CLOUDY Temp: 40 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, December 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 20, 2002 The Capitol Steps bring political satire to Medford By RICHARD MOESCHL Mail Tribune Feeling a little miffed about the election results? Concerned about how politicians are or are not doing their jobs? Does keeping up with the news make you feel like you’re living in "The Twilight Zone?" Craterian Performances has a remedy: a dose of the political humor and musical parodies of The Capitol Steps, who will perform at 8 p.m. Friday at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, 23 S. Central Ave., Medford. The Capitol Steps are a troupe of congressional staffers-turned-comedians who travel the country satirizing the very people and places that once employed them. Poking bipartisan fun at the political circus in Washington, D.C., the Steps perform more than 500 shows a year. "A lot of our humor is based on word play," co-founder Elaina Newport says. Past musical stylings have included: "Thank God I’m a Contra Boy!" "Stand by your Dan" and "Hark, When Gerald Ford Was King." More current spoofs are "Talk ‘bout Saddam" (to the tune of "Walk Like a Man"), "The Wreck of the Walter Fritz Mondale" and "Hang Down Your Head, Tom Daschle." The Capitol Steps were created in December 1981, the brainchild of Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala. Newport is the only one of the three who still performs. "When we first started out, we worried that politicians would become quietly competent and we would be out of work," recalls Newport. "Now we’re employed for life. We’re like funeral directors, waiting for something bad to happen — then we pounce." The Steps have given more than 4,500 performances in 49 states. The group has 22 cast members, five of whom are on stage for any one show. Most cast members have worked on Capitol Hill; some for Democrats, some for Republicans, and others for politicians who firmly straddle the fence. No matter who holds office, there’s never a shortage of material. "We always look for an opportunity to be bipartisan. When Perot was running, we were tripartisan," says Newport, who describes herself as "an extreme moderate — I consider both extremes funny." The material is updated constantly. "I watch a lot of comedians and late night shows to see if the comedians and the audiences connect with the ideas."Those ideas include George Bush’s latest malapropism, in "Don’t Go Fakin’ You’re Smart" (to Elton John’s "Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart") or their own Little Orphan Annie in "Osama Come Out, Tomorrow." Only about half of the show is political. Anything in the news is fair game — cloning, Martha Stewart, or Mike Tyson ("Pardon Me Boys, Is this the Chap Who Tried to Chew You?") The Capitol Steps are equal opportunity offenders. And the offended love it. Newport says politicians are good sports. Apparently, they enjoy being made fun of. "The last five presidents have invited us to perform — six, if you include Hillary," she said. After Sept. 11 last year, comedy became even more crucial. "No one had ever been through this before, she says. "People value being able to laugh now more than ever. A lot of people said humor and making fun of ourselves gets them through this." Tickets for the performance are $30, $27 and $24 for adults; $22, $19 and $16 for youths 18 and under. Call the Craterian Box Office at 779-3000. Reach Tempo editor Richard Moeschl at 776-4486, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S