Friday, September 5, 2008

THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (abridged)


Last night I saw The Reduced Shakespeare Company's

THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (abridged)

I loved it! So gleefuly subversive. For example, see their tongue-in-cheek new national anthem:


Austin: As we’re all agreed that we need a new national anthem, I have written my own modest example. Um, could I get a G?

Reed: Yeah. [plays note]

Austin: Thank you. Now, this is a song – this is a song which some of you may recognize. Maestro?

[Reed plays “America, the Beautiful” on accordion]

Austin: [singing] Oh, beautiful for spacious skies
And non-exploited waves of botanical companions.
For mountains of majesties and color
And free-roaming non-human beings
Beside the differently-harvested plain.
Oh, non-Eurocentric bioregion
Non-theologically specific supreme being
([speaks] If she exists)
Shed ambigenic grace on thee
And made you more of a
Non-speciesistic, multi-cultural eco-warrior
From chronologically-gifted anthropomorphized river
To cosmetically-enhanced sea!

[Music ends]

[Audience cheers; applauds]

Austin: Thank you so much! Thank you. Thank you so much. Play ball!

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