Susan Granger’s review of “You’re Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush” (Cort Theater: ’08-’09 season)
Since Will Ferrell does such a convincing George W. Bush imitation, it’s understandable why he’s milking every last drop of lowbrow, tasteless humor out of the retirement of the 43rd President of the United States, who seemingly drops onto the stage from an unseen helicopter. Perched on the lap of a Marine, he couldn’t be more smug.
The Decider, as he’s dubbed himself, is there to amuse us for 90 minutes, dredging up memories, mispronounced words and malapropisms from the past eight years. There’s the big Presidential desk, big leather armchair, ever-present red telephone on a cylindrical stand and glimpses of the folks who comprised his Cabinet.
“I feel as free as balls in boxes,” he marvels, projecting a photograph of his penis on the back wall. “That’s what you call shock and awe.”
As written by Ferrell and directed by his longtime collaborator Adam McKay (“Step Brothers”), raunchy is a key descriptive word as Bush reveals his past sexual exploits, including how he once lived with a man in Vermont, and derides everyone including his mother (Barbara Bush). But he makes it quite clear that he bears no animosity toward his successor, noting, “I’m a fan of the Tiger Woods guy.”
Having honed this satirical impression in various sketches on “Saturday Night Live,” Will Ferrell’s Dubya is perfection, from the Texas twang to the cocky, strutting gait. Shimmying Pia Glenn performs a torrid, show-stopping number as Condoleezza Rice and Ferrell’s brother Patrick gives surly support as a strapping, ever-present Secret Service agent. There’s even an amusing interlude of spontaneous interaction with the audience, revolving around Bush’s penchant for bestowing instant nicknames on strangers. And thanks to Eugene Lee (sets) and Brian MacDevitt (lighting), it’s a slick production. So if you like your humor crude, rude and raw, it’s a Ferrell of laughs.