With the unveiling of “Hope - the Obama Musical Story,” have we begun beating a hopeful message to death?
Anthony Johnson
Although many are becoming critical of the U.S. president closer to home, “Obamamania” is alive and well in Germany. On January 17th the European country launched Hope – The Obama Musical Story.
What is interesting about the release of this musical is that it hasn’t been premiered in, well, the United States. One would think that the U.S. would be the most relevant place for this particular story to be told (and sung and danced). But, in a tradition that started with the famous speech given to Berliners by JFK, Obama delivered a speech to 200,000 Germans in 2008 and apparently set them ablaze with so much hope for the future that a Broadway-style musical was the next logical step.
Musical theatre has been a bit of a dirty word to many in the last twenty years or so. That’s not to insinuate that there’s anything wrong with the genre; I’ll be the first to admit I enjoy a musical whether its screen or stage. But there is a certainly is a not-so-silent culture today that suggests that “musical = cheesy.”
It also seems a little cheesy to be immortalizing a political figure that is nearing his first anniversary in office. Yes, Obama did act as a political beacon of light for many Americans, but the jury is still out on whether or not he will follow through on the “hopeful” campaign promises.
Dan Savage, a sex-advice columnist and gay-rights activist based out of Seattle, is less than satisfied with Obama’s progress thus far. Before an audience at the Edmonds Community College in Washington, Savage stated, “A lot of people are annoyed at gays and lesbians for yelling and screaming at Obama about the promises he made us. We wouldn’t be so upset if he hadn’t made those promises that were very explicit, particularly about the ‘Defence of Marriage Act.’ Which [Obama] called abhorrent and then his justice department turned around and defended in the most defensive possible terms arguing that the government had a rational basis to ban gay marriage for the same reasons it bans incest and child rape.”
The mood that issues from the videos available for viewing on the web include everything that many despise about musicals and that many others are willing to shell out top dollars for (up to $150 U.S.). The mood is insanely optimistic and includes many energised segments featuring a singing Barack Obama (played by Jimmie Wilson) and his wife, Michelle.
Also featured in the cast are Hilary Clinton, John McCain, Sara Palin, and many others including characters that become active Obama supporters throughout the show.
The one nagging “elephant in the room” in all of this lies in the timing of the release. Obama hasn’t really achieved all that his campaign promised (he’s only been in office for one year) but the hype behind the celebrity president is still huge, even in Germany. From a capital standpoint, the time is perfect to make a huge amount of money on this production.
Of course, it could be argued that making money is the mandate of all theatrical performances, especially the swollen budgeted Broadway-style musical, but this one seems especially intent on catching the hype-wave while the getting is good.
Hope – The Obama Musical Story is also not the first, but third, musical based on Barack Obama and his story. ‘Obama on My Mind’ opened in London, as well as ‘Obama: The Musical’ premiered in Nairobi, Kenya.
Who Knows? Obama still has another three (maybe seven) years to grab the opportunity to emblazon himself into History as one of the greatest things that ever happened to the U.S.A. and the World. But until he successfully proves that, maybe an epic musical production in his honour ought to have been put on hold.