As if a reminder is even necessary, Donald Trump shocked the world and most of the United States in 2016 when he won the seat of the most powerful position in the nation. He defied the media, betting odds, polls, and all those who believed it wasn’t even remotely possible. Opinions on President Trump still vary to this day, and it should be explained that no attempt is to be made in this blog to convince anyone otherwise of how to feel about him. Still, that doesn’t mean the entire thing can’t be laughed at. Writer Mike Daisey provides everyone that outlet in his 2016 play length monologue The Trump Card.
The Trump Card is a monologue he wrote as a result of the rise of Donald Trump, which mainly serves as a condemnation to all Americans as he feels everyone on the political spectrum is responsible for him having eventually being elected.
Mike Daisey is an author, monologist, and actor, all skills of which he considers himself an artist above all else. He’s written books, monologues he himself has performed, and also plays. The Trump Card is a monologue he wrote as a result of the rise of Donald Trump, which mainly serves as a condemnation to all Americans as he feels everyone on the political spectrum is responsible for him having eventually being elected. The main takeaway appears to be that everyone is to blame – The right is at fault for forever being stuck in their ways and the left is at fault for their smugness and refusal to come to the table as well as underestimating both Trump and his base. Of course, this is just his opinion though the forum in which he chose to share it is creative.
To a live audience, Daisey sits at a table with a glass of water under one light as the rest of those attending watch from the darkness. He sits at the table the entire time, so there’s not really any blocking which is arguably a con of the show. The biggest pro however, is that the show is laughable. Daisey wrote The Trump Card with the intent of humour, but also to make his point. He’s incredibly high energy, very liberal, and his views on the president are evident and clear, but on the other hand, he is not without crediting Trump’s appeal where he feels credit is due. He’s unnecessarily loud at times, but for the most part his timing is sound and his writing works for how he presents himself. He’s also not afraid to make fun of himself when it ‘works’. By and large the entire thing is fairly one sided, though it’s almost to be expected. The larger point being, this show won’t be for everyone but for those of whom it is for, it is REALLY for.
As the election for 2020 has long since been concluded, it seems a more than appropriate time to watch The Trump Card. After all, it is free and even at no cost to anyone else who may want to stage the show as a production, as told by Daisey when he first wrote the piece. To any who may be interested in a laugh, the full show can be found on YouTube.
