Marking 10 years of the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s annual Will on the Hill event, “West Wing” actor Richard Schiff and actress Veanne Cox led a cast of costumed members of Congress, media and business types through the Shakespearean tragedy “Romeo and Juliet,” but their version was peppered with political puns.
“Usually we do sketch comedy, but that requires politicians to be funny, on purpose,” Schiff began. This year’s performance was a play within a play, with politicos being cast as Shakespearean players by Schiff and Cox.
Recommended Stories
“Now we need a Romeo, I trust you’ve heard of Romeo? A self-obsessed adolescent with an interest in younger women,” Cox suggested. “Sorry, Newt Gingrich was unavailable,” Schiff responded. (Groans). “Moving on, we need Mercutio … I need someone crazy. I mean really, really crazy,” Cox said. “Keith Olbermann wasn’t available,” Schiff explained. (More groans). “We need an incompetent messenger,” Cox said. “Hilary Rosen?” Schiff suggested. (Even more groans).
Strangely, the crowd favorite was D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who absolutely butchered her lines last year. This year, she excelled in the role as the postmaster general. “Please keep us around, OK?” she said. “We’ve got commemorative stamps … commemorative stamps, commemorative stamps,” she belted, cueing a loud burst of screams and applause.
