February 9, 2015

"With the wild success of 'The Lamentable Tragedie of Scott Walker' in the not-so-distant past and the controversial governor himself gearing up for a presidential bid..."

"... Broom Street Theater is once again staging a parody with Walker as its target. 'Greetings from Fitzwalkerstan' opens Friday, Feb. 13, at the small black box theater at 1119 Williamson St...."
Brian Leahy Doyle, a Wisconsin native who now lives out of state, said... "In 2011, I became aware of the Wisconsin Uprising, primarily through Facebook..."...

Most songs are original with a few parodies: "I Am Governor" is sung to the tune of "I Am Woman" — "I am governor, don'tcha know, from Baraboo to Peshtigo." A parody of "Rose's Turn" from "Gypsy" includes the refrain "everything's coming up cheese curds."...

The main character in "Greetings from Fitzwalkerstan" is Winsome Walker, who comes across as "a really nice guy while doing horrendous things," Doyle said.... The play explores "mindless GOP politics," Doyle said. adding that his goal was to "lampoon" Walker, because "he's a buffoon ... he's really embarrassing Wisconsin."
Broom Street Theater has a long tradition here in Madison, going back to that year of years 1969:
Broom Street Theater was founded by Stuart Gordon in early 1969 in reaction to censorship attempts by the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Gordon's on-campus theater troop, Screw Theater. The controversy surrounding nudity in the production of Peter Pan had received national attention in the fall of 1968. BST's first public performance, a reinterpretation of Lysistrata, occurred on May 9, 1969, after a several-months delay due to legal action by the Dane County District Attorney....

After performing in several locations around the UW-Madison campus, the theater found a semi-permanent home in the basement of St. Francis House, 1001 University Avenue, performing there from 1970 until 1975. In late 1974, a visiting bishop witnessed a performance of The Song of Bernadette, where an excessive amount of Oreo cookies, representing communion wafers, were stuffed into an actress' mouth portraying Saint Bernadette Soubirous....

After leaving St. Frances House, the theater focused for two years on purchasing its own building, culminating in the acquisition of an old radiator repair shop at 1119 Williamson Street....

56 comments:

MayBee said...

Ha ha hahahahahah!.

I remember when people were whining about Obama getting an unprecedented amount of disrespect due to racism.

MadisonMan said...

Who says that Mr. Scott is bad for the arts?

chickelit said...

I thought BST had died with Joel Gersmann.

Just as edgy as ever.

DrMaturin said...

When you're taking flak it means you're over the target.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Broom Street Theater is a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization...

Good thing the IRS has been keeping such a close eye on the Tea Party groups, otherwise a non-profit might engage in political activity...

tim in vermont said...

This has to be a false flag operation by Mr Scott. Nobody could be that stupid.

chickelit said...

Some half-formed memory inside my head recalls a similar attempt by BST to lampoon Gov. Dreyfus during his tenure. [needs fact check - ed.]

furious_a said...

No Tommy Tune high-kicking to Russ Feingold's It's Not Over 'Til We Win!?

Curious George said...

#1: People who use three names are almost always hacks.

#2: How dumb is this: "I am governor, don'tcha know, from Baraboo to Peshtigo."

You need to use cities that span the geography of what you're talking about ("Sea to Shining Sea"). These cities make no sense, geographically or musically. Also, Walker really doesn't use the "dontcha know" thing. Like I said, hack.

Then again listen to the stupidity of the Solidaarity Singers. It doesn't have to be good to be progressive.

furious_a said...

There's no such thing as "bad publicity", but there's an awful lot of "bad theater".

Applause will be in the form of clapter.

garage mahal said...

Then again listen to the stupidity of the Solidaarity Singers

They, however, can spell. You can't seem to pull that off. Also, they are not called the Solidarity Singers.

furious_a said...

#1: People who use three names are almost always hacks.

...or felony robbery suspects.

Ann Althouse said...

"#2: How dumb is this: "I am governor, don'tcha know, from Baraboo to Peshtigo.""

At Meadhouse we prefer:

"He would stand up for us all, when he tamed the status quo/Now, he's standing 10 feet tall, from Ashland to Monroe."

Ann Althouse said...

"Also, they are not called the Solidarity Singers."

They're not?

Man, you are in on some esoterica!

Big Mike said...

You know, garage, if you could bring yourself to dial back on the raw, irrational hatred you might have a nonzero chance of influencing people. In the direction you want to influence them, I mean.

You and the rest of the Wisconsin left-wing extremists might think on that.

Big Mike said...

@Althouse, there's no town in Wisconsin where the first letter of its name comes later in the alphabet than 'M' and yet ends in a long 'O' sound?

Matt Sablan said...

These five minute hates are getting a little silly.

Bob Ellison said...

This Scott Walker speech will probably be as important as this Obama speech.

garage mahal said...

You know, garage, if you could bring yourself to dial back on the raw, irrational hatred you might have

Pointing out misspellings and pure ignorance is raw, irrational hatred? Okay dude. It's like me critiquing the Bob Dyylan Band. Maybe stick to something you know?

Curious George said...

Ann Althouse said...
"#2: How dumb is this: "I am governor, don'tcha know, from Baraboo to Peshtigo.""

At Meadhouse we prefer:

"He would stand up for us all, when he tamed the status quo/Now, he's standing 10 feet tall, from Ashland to Monroe."

Of course, as do I. And it also makes sense. Ashland is way up north on Lake Superior, and Monroe is way down south almost on the Illinois border.

Curious George said...

"garage mahal said...

Pointing out misspellings and pure ignorance is raw, irrational hatred?"

No, it's just lame. And there are many references to the "Solidarity Singers", including scottwalkerwatch.com, NBC15, fox6now.com, and even your beloved madison.com.

But from here on, for accuracy sake, I will refer to them as those "stupid fucks that sing lame parodies about Walker and union solidarity at the Capitol in Madison at lunchtime, led by a loser out of work theater director whose wife is a state employee and supports his sorry ass, or the SFTSLPAWAUSATCIMALLBAOOWTDWWIASEASHSA for short.

We good?

damikesc said...

"Oooh...how SUBVERSIVE! Hey let's do play about how evil slavery is next!"

garage mahal said...

And it also makes sense

Neither Ashland (Ashland County) or Monroe (Green County) voted to reelect Walker. Not all of us are idiots.

tim in vermont said...

Pointing out misspellings and pure ignorance...

I am sure that, until you corrected him, he thought there were two 'a's in solidarity. That is the depth of his ignorance. I mean it is really deep. No way that was an innocent typo or a "drafting error"! No fucking way!

It was profound ignorance of the proud movement against the tyrant Mr Scott and blasphemy against The Wisconsin Idea!

You guys are a laugh a minute. I will say that.

yoobee said...

"Neither Ashland (Ashland County) or Monroe (Green County) voted to reelect Walker. Not all of us are idiots."

But Walker is still governor of those towns and counties, correct? Or is this a veiled "he's not my governor!" type of statement?

Curious George said...

Also dailykos, www.democracynow.org, wisconsin public radio, www.nationofchange.org, www.occupy.com, http://journaltimes.com/, First Amendment Protection Fund, www.democracynow.org, and www.nationofchange.org.

All refer to the "Solidarity Singers."



jae said...

They are just piqued because Scott Walker "sits on a throne crafted from the skulls of his enemies."

robother said...

But where are the clowns, there ought to be clowns--don't bother, they're here.

Skipper said...

I recall a panel discussion at some theater forum in Madison in the early 1970's at which Stuart Gordon was asked how he would describe the work that Broom Street Theater produces. His answer, "Garbage. All garbage."

Lewis Wetzel said...

I've been to Ashland. It's a dying union town full of old people, like Duluth was in 70s. Pretty, in a way. In no way can it be considered the future of Wisconsin.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

I have strong political opinions and likes and dislikes and yet I would be very uncomfortable sitting through something like that, even if I agreed or less with the artists.

So childish and undignified.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

*agreed more or less; sorry

TosaGuy said...

Even in his wildest dreams, Scott Walker couldn't have picked better political opponents.

YoungHegelian said...

The problem with art serving the revolution is that the message becomes tiresome so quickly, that, in a very short period of time, your audience tunes you out.

If any of the lefties in question had ever studied the history of various left-wing regimes & their attempts to control the arts they'd know this already. Berthold Brecht may have been a Stalinist & a playwright, but being a Stalinist & a playwright doesn't make one Berthold Brecht.

Known Unknown said...

WIld successes ain't what they used to be.

Anonymous said...

You know, curious george, if you could bring yourself to dial back on the raw, irrational hatred you might have a nonzero chance of influencing people. In the direction you want to influence them, I mean.

You and the rest of the Wisconsin right-wing extremists might think on that

Lewis Wetzel said...

"raw, irrational hatred" is the specialty of the Left these days.
Palin, Breitbart, Cheney, Walker . . .

tim in vermont said...

The problem with art serving the revolution is that the message becomes tiresome so quickly, that, in a very short period of time, your audience tunes you out

Exactly. Art is best at subtle destruction of the current zeitgeist. After all, the very definition of art is that it must be transgressive. What is transgressive about telling your audience exactly what they already think and believe. Even a romantic comedy, the ultimate in fluff art, had better bring a new perspective on some aspect of romance to succeed.

I mean look at how Brokeback Mountain is still playing all the time on the various cable channels... isn't it?

Connie said...

If they are lucky they might convince Gwen Moore to sing her famous version of "Hit the Road, Scott." https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCQQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D70Z9XhetTLw&ei=3vPYVMaMIo6wyAS0qYHgCg&usg=AFQjCNFjic3BB9-NRUENh_64XhrLefObcg&sig2=IoLyt15738SROCVJezY3pA&bvm=bv.85464276,d.aWw

If that doesn't pack the fringes in nothing will.

garage mahal said...

Even in his wildest dreams, Scott Walker couldn't have picked better political opponents.?

The vast majority of people in this state had no idea who was running for Attorney General in 2014. I doubt they are aware of an obscure play in Madison.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Terry said...

I've been to Ashland. It's a dying union town full of old people, like Duluth was in 70s. Pretty, in a way. In no way can it be considered the future of Wisconsin.

Give the Democrats a chance.

FullMoon said...

garage mahal said... [hush]​[hide comment]

You know, garage, if you could bring yourself to dial back on the raw, irrational hatred you might have

Pointing out misspellings and pure ignorance is raw, irrational hatred? Okay dude. It's like me critiquing the Bob Dyylan Band. Maybe stick to something you know?


I have no dog in this fight,however I will occasionallly intrntionally missspell words to troll the spelling nazis. Probably the easiest way rile them up. Using "your" for "you're" works well also

David said...

"#1: People who use three names are almost always hacks."

Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Thomas Alva Edison

But then again there are all those assassins.

David said...

Lefty automatons get to cash in too. Capitalism!

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

FullMoon said...
I will occasionallly intrntionally missspell words to troll the spelling nazis. Probably the easiest way rile them up. Using "your" for "you're" works well also


This is officially my excuse going forward, not that I type too quickly or read to carelesssly.

Ann Althouse said...

"@Althouse, there's no town in Wisconsin where the first letter of its name comes later in the alphabet than 'M' and yet ends in a long 'O' sound?"

The location is in geography, north to south, not the alphabet!

Curious George said...

"madisonfella said...
You know, curious george, if you could bring yourself to dial back on the raw, irrational hatred you might have a nonzero chance of influencing people. In the direction you want to influence them, I mean.

You and the rest of the Wisconsin right-wing extremists might think on that"

Couple things Penquin. Nothing irrational about my positions. And I'm not here to influence anyone.

damikesc said...

The problem with art serving the revolution is that the message becomes tiresome so quickly, that, in a very short period of time, your audience tunes you out.

I'd say the problem with art is that it WANTS to be counter-culture, but to paraphrase Jonah Goldberg: You own universities. You own Hollywood. You own the music industry. And you're going to 'stick it to the man' by AGREEING with all of them?"

Hard to be counter culture when you're lapdogs FOR "the man".

FullMoon said...


Blogger AReasonableMan said...

FullMoon said...
I will occasionallly intrntionally missspell words to troll the spelling nazis. Probably the easiest way rile them up. Using "your" for "you're" works well also

This is officially my excuse going forward, not that I type too quickly or read to carelesssly.


it's not a excuse, it's an reason.

Your welcome

SomeoneHasToSayIt said...


Hey, BST!

Fark you, you partisan Progressive hacks.

ken in tx said...

People ARE still writing plays about how evil slavery was. I saw one in Atlanta last year. "The Whipping Man", it was about a Jewish family whose Confederate officer son had knocked up one of the family's slaves, which resulted in her being sold away to an unknown fate. You only learn this toward the end of the play when the girl's father, who has been taking care of the badly wounded officer, after the war, confronts him about it.

Achilles said...

"I have no dog in this fight,however I will occasionallly intrntionally missspell words to troll the spelling nazis. Probably the easiest way rile them up. Using "your" for "you're" works well also"

Their are people who just can't seam to get there act together in hear.

Achilles said...

"...adding that his goal was to "lampoon" Walker, because "he's a buffoon ... he's really embarrassing Wisconsin."

When you lose 3 statewide elections, have your state legislators run to another state and be accurately lampooned as fleebaggers, and run an idiot scion born rich life failure for governor as your nominee your party and ideology is pretty much parody at that point.

Embarrassing is a perfect word To describe the left in Wisconsin.

tim in vermont said...

This is officially my excuse going forward, not that I type too quickly or read to carelesssly.

Mine is going to be "drafting error."

Lewis Wetzel said...

Achilles wrote:
" . . . have your state legislators run to another state and be accurately lampooned as fleebaggers,"
And demonstrating their contempt for the democratic process as well.

Unknown said...

For the person who wrote that anyone who uses three names is a "hack," just so you know it's my real name... Don'tcha know!

Brian Leahy Doyle