No victory for 'Election Day'

Like the savvy politician who knows he'll get more mileage serving up platitudes than examining complicated issues, playwright Josh Tobiessen sticks to the superficial in his play "Election Day" in its Chicago premiere at Theatre Seven of Chicago.

While the erstwhile political satire flirts with the issue of how indifference, hypocrisy and self-interest pervade and pervert politics, Tobiessen abandons substance in favor of farce, and an unremarkable farce at that.

Director Brant Russell's production includes winning performances from Jeremy Fisher and Sue Redman. But they can't compensate for meager laughs, cartoonish characters and contrived situations all of which consign "Election Day" to the realm of the also-ran.

Set on the day of a mayoral runoff election, the play centers around a quintet with conflicting agendas who engage in outrageous, politically motivated antics in an effort to get their candidate elected.

There's apathetic, easygoing Adam (a nicely noncommittal Fisher) whose high-strung, highly motivated, lawyer-activist girlfriend Brenda (Robin Kacyn) pressures him into voting for her candidate.

"We learn the facts," she tells Adam as she instructs him on the issues, "and then decide what's best for the community."

Like her brother, the flaky, sexually frustrated Cleo (an endearing, quirky Redman whose timing is spot on throughout) is undecided and easily swayed. She has recently joined TREE (Total Reclamation of Endemic Ecology) "a highly organized, moderately trained eco-terrorist group" headed up by Edmund (James Kinney), an uptight, aggressively green and actual tree-hugger in whom she has a romantic interest. Lastly, there's blow-dried, mayoral candidate Jerry Clark (Adam Rubin), a local politico with national aspirations. Willing to do anything for a vote, Jerry gets more than he bargained for when shows up at Adam and Brenda's apartment trolling for undecideds.

If "Election Day" has any message, it's to condemn an apathetic, ill-informed electorate. The problem is, Tobiessen treats it almost as an afterthought, surrounding it with so much wackiness, the censure has little impact. As for its attempt to skewer opportunistic activists and self-interested officials willing to compromise their principles to further their cause, "Election Day" lacks bite. Finally, Theatre Seven's production, with few exceptions, comes across as strident.

That leaves an unfunny farce and a satire sans insight, neither of which is enough to earn my vote.

"Election Day"

One and a half stars (out of four)

Location: Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago

Times: 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 30

Running time: About 90 minutes, no intermission

Tickets: $12-$20

Parking: On the street

Box office: (773) 853-3158

Rating: For adults, contains strong language, sexual situations