STAGE REVIEW : ‘Spin!’ a Powerful, Witty Political Satire

The current fear and loathing of politics, politicians and the media have found vigorous theatrical expression in “Spin!,” at the Flight Theatre.

This is an extended satire, presented by the appropriately named Rough Theatre, that makes most of the political sketches on “Saturday Night Live” or in the Gross National Product’s show at the Odyssey Theatre look, well, kinder and gentler.

At the center of “Spin!” is Vice President Claude Fogg, who is played by a big white balloon with a happy face insignia on one side.

Fogg is elevated to his job by President Franklin Shrub (Brent Morris) because Fogg would make anyone look presidential. But Fogg’s power-mad wife Prudence (Toni Gallagher) isn’t satisfied with being the Second Lady. She wants it all.

En route to the top, she begins a torrid affair with Gov. Oral Glutton (Phillip Montzen), who seems derived in equal parts from Jesse Helms, John Sununu and Wilbur Mills. Meanwhile, the Foggs’ 23-year-old girl-child Chastity (Christina Murphy) blames herself for the whole mess.

The political and sexual shenanigans are lapped up by the mass audience that watches a sleazy infotainment TV series, also called “Spin!,” co-hosted by the irritating Peter Pester (author Eric Diamond) and the voluptuous but vacant Bambi Plastique (Colleen Morris). Their series, just like the play itself, focuses on “the sick and the hot.”

If one takes seriously the real-life counterparts of these characters, “Spin!” is hardly fair. But satire shouldn’t worry about being fair. There’s a bitter fury behind the wisecracks here, as well as a gleeful cynicism. It’s refreshing to see this kind of passion expressed in an election year that, so far, has driven many Americans simply to distraction.

Staged by Diamond, the production is presented as the cartoon it is, with some of the characters (though it isn’t clear why not all of them) wearing clown makeup and circus-inspired clothes.

Anyone who’s easily offended should stay away; the blows here land below the belt as often as not. But they do land--with considerable power and wit.

* “Spin!,” Flight Theatre, 6472 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Fridays-Saturdays, 11 p.m. Ends June 13. $10. (213) 936-8577. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.