Obama-Ology


Do you guys remember Hope? It may be an Elder Millennial thing. In 2008, after enduring years of The Absolute Lowest Point Of Modern America After Which It Can’t Possibly Get Any Worse, we put our faith in a man who would lead us out of the desert and it became a movement and it felt good.


Who could have possibly known America’s reactionary elements would not only fail to shrivel away in the face of the blinding light of love after a single election cycle, but would only grow stronger? Probably lots of smart people but no one wanted to listen at the time.

Aurin Squire’s Obama-Ology takes us back to the rising tides of this time centering on Warren, (David Guiden) a passionate, idealistic young African American fresh out of an elite university who wants to be part of the historical moment of Obama’s presidential campaign so he relocates to poor and working class East Cleveland. He is met with immediate skepticism by experienced African American organizer Barbara (Tuesdai B. Perry) who accurately predicts much of the community will get “sellout” and “Uncle Tom” vibes from Warren’s well educated mannerisms.

For his part, Warren is struggling with his identity, hiding his homosexuality and smarting from the abuse he received at the hands of his Evangelical parents.

We follow Waren’s slow struggle to connect with residents and build the Obama volunteer base, knowing that East Cleveland, centered in the battleground state of Ohio, will be a very important location for turnout. Warren starts to build an important relationship with CeCe (Perry again) a 27 year old single mother who admires Obama and wants to help but is struggling with a reading disability.

Warren comes to realize one of the problems of politics is a tendency for politicians, even the good ones, to show up in marginalized communities asking for votes every couple of years but then leaving the most vulnerable people behind as they move on to the next electoral battle. This strengthens his resolve to make a real difference.

Director Bria Walker makes energetic and economic use of her small cast. Perry is particularly brilliant as not one but several different Black women all of whom have their own well realized individual motivations for giving Warren a hard time. Chris Jensen and Em Demaio round out the cast with amusing portrayals of multiple roles.

As comedy and drama, Obama-Ology is charming and occasionally moving. As a shot of nostalgia, it’s a time travel trip back to 2008. Some of us would love the chance to stay there.


Saturdays 7pm Sundays 3pm through June 25th.

Price: $30

Stage: Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 847-866-5914

www.fjtheatre.com


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