The Last Days of Trump (A Liberal Fantasy), created and directed by Eoin Carney, feels like an extended, all too realistic SNL skit, whose viewing experience (at least for me) oscillated between laughter and despair.
Set in the future during Trump’s final days in office in 2028, the show follows Morgan Vaughn, the White House Chief of Staff, played by Carly McCann, as she attempts to keep Donald Trump, played by Connor Cunningham, occupied until he leaves office. She is advised by General Reese, played by John Smeathers, and enlists the help of Carla Heart, (Catilin McWethy), to create the Donald Trump Presidential Library.
The cast worked together very well. McCann nailed Vaughn’s anxiety as she is overwhelmed with the demands of the job. McWethy captures Heart’s journey from reluctant librarian to benevolent dictator with confidence, and John Smeathers had me laughing out loud with his portrayal of General Reese. Finally, Cunningham has got Donald Trump down pat, complete with pouty lips and hand gestures.
From the offset, Trump is characterised as a spoiled toddler in need of constant supervision, lest he do anything disastrous. His obsession with gorillas and sharks really drives this point home. And just when you’ve finished laughing at Cunningham’s expert comical portrayal of the character, you remember he represents a man with very real power and resources.
Throughout the show, increasingly dystopian news announcements are played, which immerse you in this alternate reality. Though they start off ridiculous — I found the announcement of JD Vance’s death by a falling shingle in the Vatican particularly funny — as the plot develops, there are certain announcements that don’t seem too far from reality, leaving me with a slight sense of unease.
Between the show’s laughs, one thinks about how this political satire is based on reality, a reality that, for many Americans, is increasingly oppressive. This, I found, was an effective but entertaining way of making the audience think critically about the current administration. Ultimately, for fans of satire and impersonations, The Last Days of Trump (A Liberal Fantasy) delivers.
The Last Days of Trump (A Liberal Fantasy) will run until 16 August at studio at C ARTS | C venues | C aurora. You can buy tickets here.
Image by Eoin Carney, provided to The Student as press material.
