People said it wouldn’t be a hit. They laughed it off and said, “A sequel to "Bill Clinton the Musical?" When will they come up with something original!” But they were wrong. The musical has launched the career of the lead performer, Hillary Clinton, to the position of America’s best known actress. I decided that we all needed a closer look into the making of the musical, so I obtained an exclusive interview with the woman herself after last night’s performance. Below is a transcript of the Odyssey exclusive.
Interviewer: Mrs. Clinton, how did you come up with the idea for such an iconic performance?
Clinton: Oh please! Do you think this was a solo act? (Cackles) No, no, I have a great team of people behind me who write a script so well, that all I have to do is memorize the lines! And perform them of course. (More cackles)
Interviewer: Do you mean to say that you were not involved in the writing process?
Clinton: Well, it’s more of a group effort. When you see the title "Hillary Clinton," you’re not just looking at one woman, but a collection of about sixty to seventy experienced writers who know how to give you a song that’s exactly what you wanted, because it’s based off of the songs you fell in love with long before! You see my head writer, Bill, he does a lot of the work, but I provide important notes. In a given day I’ll email him dozens of times with ideas. For instance, I wanted to include a song called Chameleon. It was supposed to be a secret but my email was hacked, so we decided to cut that song from the show.
Interviewer: What acting style do you tend to adopt?
Clinton: I view every performance as an opportunity to give my audience what they want. When I go up and perform my first priority is to make a connection with the audience. I want them to see themselves in me. And of course I take feedback very seriously. I had released several early versions of the play to select audiences around the country, and I took notes when they were unsatisfied. Therefore, when the final version was released, it almost looked nothing like the original! Some lines that worked a few years ago simply do not today. Being a playwright means you need to adapt to the times, and realize that as giving the people what they want is the way to their hearts.
Interviewer: How do you prepare for each performance of your show?
Clinton: Once I arrive at the stage I go in for makeup. I apply ample makeup before the performance because the play takes place twenty years ago, so I need to make myself look like I belong in the 1990s.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for your time. I know that you have some major performances coming up in the near future, so I’ll let you get back to rehearsing!
Clinton: Oh the pleasure was all mine! And remember to buy tickets long in advance, because I sold out!
