In these turbulent times, when political discourse often rises\u00a0or falls to the level of farce, comics have never seemed to have it so good. Whether it’s Alec Baldwin playing Trump on SNL, the daily late-night monologues or even \u201cFox and Friends,\u201d seen through the right prism, there is no shortage of folks making use of a glut of mock-worthy material.<\/p>\n
But, says Mark Eaton of the satiric political parody troupe, Capitol Steps, this can be a good and bad thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt times,” he said, “it\u2019s hard to be funnier than what\u2019s actually happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Capitol Steps return for their mostly annual Long Beach performance<\/a> this Saturday, Jan. 12 at the Carpenter Center, with shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.\u00a0The fast-paced, sorta fact-based, show will feature about 30 songs and skits\u2014Eaton describes it as “Weird Al meets politics”\u2014and characters ranging from a milieu of Trumps to Paul Manafort to Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren and \u201ca cavalcade of characters,\u201d according to Eaton, who says the Steps are \u201cequal opportunity offenders.\u201d<\/p>\n The show bounces across the stage with a plethora of puns and an abundance of alliterations; the closing Spoonerism-laced rant is a true\u2014and rather blue if you can keep up\u2014delight.<\/p>\n It is said that turbulent times provide the best fodder for comics. When bellicosity replaces reason, Eaton says, \u201cIf you don\u2019t laugh it will drive you crazy and just make you cry.\u201d<\/p>\n In 1981 the Steps were founded by a group of Senate staffers. It is said they wanted to do a nativity play but in all of Congress they couldn\u2019t find three wise men and a virgin. And so, the legend was born. Six presidential administrations later, they\u2019re still at it.<\/p>\n Composed in various iterations of a cast of 25 members, of whom about five will tour to any given show. Elaina Newport, a former staffer for Senator Charles Percy, is the lone founding member still active, although she will not be in Long Beach.<\/p>\n