This current bizarre world of American politics may seem far beyond the norm, but this country has never been very normal in regards to it's politics. And in the years during the Great Depression George Gershwin, his brother Ira and renowned playwright George S. Kaufman created the first truly successful Broadway satire that made light of that truly chaotic period. Ironically, these two musicals are still uncomfortably relevant and in my opinion just as hilarious. So, without simply writing the plot of the shows, though I might do that, let's look at the similarities in modern politics and the shows "Of Thee I Sing" and "Let Em' Eat Cake"!

"Of Thee I Sing" opens with a group of politicians of an unspecified party discussing their political problem, they've nominated John Wintergreen as the party nominee but they don't know what to campaign on. They've also forgotten the name of the Vice President, Alexander Throttlebottom, but so has everyone else in the play. When Wintergreen arrives in the hotel room they question the maid and ask her what is the most important thing to her. Her first response is money, her second love. The men decide on love, and elect to have a beauty contest in which the winner will become the first lady if Wintergreen is elected. You see what I'm getting at?

The beauty contest begins, and fiery southern bell Diana Devereaux is voted as the winner. But Wintergreen has just fallen in love with Mary Turner, one of the contest administrators. The men ask why her over Diana, and Wintergreen responds with her ability to make corn muffins, without corn. The men agree this is quite the skill and agree that she's the one, but Diana is furious and vows to sue. Fast forward to the campaign trail, where the two head campaigners sing the hilarious "Love Is Sweeping the Country". In this jubilant song the North and South forgive each other, the Cohns and Cabots make amends, and St. Paul and Minneapolis kiss. This song is more hilarious in the context of the 2016 election, where anything but love was sweeping the country. Then at a Madison Square Garden rally, a wrestling match occurs in front of the podium in order to keep the audiences attention. Mr.Wintergreen and Ms.Turner plead with the announce to elect them and allow their love to blossom with their campaign song, "Of Thee I Sing".

"Of thee I sing, baby

You have got that certain thing, baby

Shining star and inspiration

Worthy of a mighty nation

Of thee I sing!"

The election commences and Wintergreen is elected, and his inauguration also serves as his wedding. The Supreme Court officiates and the Chief Justice announces the couple man and wife, and Wintergreen president. But just as they're about to kiss Diana storms the stage and tells the world of her jilting. The crowd at first shocked shouts "It's a dirty plot from Russia- a communistic plot!". She poses the question to the Supreme Court, what is more important, justice or corn muffins? After tasting them the court decides in favor of the corn muffins. The two are married and Diana goes on tour across the country to express this betrayal.

The second act sees Wintergreen dodging the press and their questions on the Devereaux scandal (cough cough) and singing the love song with Mary "Who Cares?". But fate finally catches up to the new president when Diana returns with the French ambassador who has discovered she's the illegitimate daughter, of an illegitimate son, of an illegitimate nephew of Napoleon. This sparks a diplomatic crisis and Wintergreen is asked to resign, which he refuses. The Senate recruits Throttlebottom to lead the impeachment effort, and just as they're about to oust Wintergreen, Mary bursts in with a shocking revelation. She's pregnant! The Senate drops the charges, having never previously impeached an expecting father. The Supreme Court decides the sex of the infant, deciding on boy. But the second shock comes with a second baby, "This time it's a girl!". The ambassador is beyond reprieve and threatens war, until Wintergreen saves the day when he remembers that if the president is unable to fulfill his duty the responsibility falls to the Vice President, who promptly marries Devereaux. Happy Ending!

But then the sequel. The sequel has a bit more relevance to the current state of affairs. "Of Thee I Sing" is really a mockery of two things, the complete lack of substance in most political campaigns and the American public's incredible susceptibility to having the wool pulled over their eyes. But 'Let Em' Eat Cake" tackles the rise of fascism that was occurring at the same time in Europe, making specific references to Hitler and Mussolini. This play was much less successful due to the uncomfortable reality it was addressing and the fact that a fascist takeover of the US wasn't exactly a far out reality.

It begins with Wintergreen losing reelection due to the Great Depression. His opponent John Tweedledee takes the White House and Wintergreen and Co. retreat to Union Square in NYC. Mary begins selling distinctive blue shirts, an obvious parody of Mussolini's and Hitler's black and brown shirts respectively. Kruger, an agitator, sings to a crowd of supporters that "happiness will fill our cups when it's down with everything that's up!". This character could fill the Bernie/Stein type camp, and I say that as a fan of Bernie. Not Stein.

"Down with all the upper classes, might as well include the masses!"

Wintergreen has a eureka moment, and with every shirt (or red hat?) sold comes the promise of a revolution, or your money back! With this a grand army is assembled and Throttlebottom recruits General Snorkfield to help with the coup. The army marches on Washington and Wintergreen successfully usurps Tweedledee by promising the army the loans from the Great War as payment. Wintergreen establishes a dictatorship of the proletariat, after asking Mary "What's the proletariat?". With this newly established government Act 1 closes with "Let Em' Eat Cake", where Wintergreen asks payment on an ancient debt, as promised by Marie Antoinette.

Act Two opens up with the White House painted Blue, and the hymn like song "Blue,Blue,Blue". It ends with the painters singing "There is no one better on any scene then our dictator Wintergreen." He enters in a lavish military uniform and elicits praise by posing the question "Who's the greatest leader that the world has ever known?", which is met with a universal "Napoleon!".

Mary ushers in the members of the League of Nations, and the diplomats ask the translators not to bother because it's wonderful that they all conveniently speak English. But when Wintergreen brings up the debt the diplomats break into the song "No Comprenez, No Capice, No Versteh?" Wintergreen is furious and demands payment, and the diplomats threaten war. But Wintergreen questions how they could wage war if the US didn't loan them the money, and the diplomats are offended that not providing them loans would even be suggested...

Wintergreen had previously abolished the Supreme Court and turned them into a baseball team of nine, and then realizes that there are nine nations which is the perfect amount for a baseball game! He wagers the debt on the game, and the diplomats offer a chance at renegotiation if they lose, with the US paying for it as suggested by Wintergreen!

The game proceeds and the US loses when referee Throttlebottom argues that a ball was fair, giving the League the win. He is put on trial and sentenced to death, along with Wintergreen and the rest of the administration when Kruger turns the army against them. Mary tries once more to save her husband by proclaiming she's pregnant once again, but Kruger see's through this stating it may have flown four years ago but it won't work with the army. Wintergreen is about to be executed when Mary pulls one more trick out of her sleeve. She reveals that new dresses from Paris arrived in the container that contained the guillotine and a fashion show commences. Kruger's second in command Trixie turns on him when Mary reminds her that she can't enjoy the dresses due to the strict revolutionary uniform of "blue,blue,blue" and thus everyone is saved and it's another "happy" ending.

One hell of a convoluted plot seems just a bit more relatable nowadays, doesn't it? Both shows are completely worth the listen due to not only their hilarity but by the excellent music composed by the Gershwin's. It will provide some much needed laughs and relief from the current situation we currently find ourselves in.