'The First Gentleman' Makes its World Premiere at Torrance Theatre Company - Review
The world premiere of 'The First Gentleman' 'teas' off at the Torrance Theater Company, running from now through June 27, 2026.
The Torrance Theatre Company is offering something fresh with the world premiere of the comedy musical ‘The First Gentleman‘, composed by Bret Simmons with a book and lyrics by David Howard. Cinephiles will recognize Howard as the writer of, ‘Galaxy Quest‘, arguably the best, ‘Star Trek‘, film ever made.
As with any world premiere, especially during its early performances, there are always bugs to work out and filing down the rough edges. ‘The First Gentleman‘ is no exception. In its current form, the musical feels incomplete and will work better as a rapid-fire, one-liner filled farce instead.
That said, the production and performances elevate the material significantly, which speaks to the talent of everyone involved at Torrance Theatre Company.
The show’s primary issue lies within its story. The First Gentleman of the United States, Russell Cassidy (John Dellaporta), is a former construction worker forced to abandon his old life in favor of serving tea and selecting china patterns after his wife, Kathryn Cassidy (Amanda Webb), becomes the nation’s first female president. What could have been a rich source of comedy instead spends much of its time emasculating Russell at every turn. He is neutered by his wife, her advisers, his own staff and even his teenage son.
A few jokes at Russell’s expense by the family would have been understandable. However, the story would have played better if the pressure came from political opponents, the media and public perception rather than from his immediate family. Having everyone around him constantly cut his knees out from under him weakens the character and diminishes the comedy.
Still, storytelling ultimately depends on the performers, and Webb and Dellaporta are delightful as the first couple. Despite the stress of running a country and navigating White House life, they convey a genuine affection for one another that keeps the audience invested.
Their son Steven (Cody Dulmage) experiences all the growing pains of adolescence while adjusting to life in the national spotlight. Forced to leave behind his friends and school, he becomes an instant celebrity whose every mistake is scrutinized. When he develops feelings for his new classmate Leah (Charlotte Sojka), his mother views her as a bad influence rather than the lifeline Steven desperately needs.
The entire ensemble plays multiple roles, but Cindy Shields is the scene stealer as Agent Turner, the First Gentleman’s chief adviser. Once she sheds the character’s illusion of upholding traditionalism and embraces increasingly outrageous personas, she goes from old fuddy-duddy to Hannibal from, ‘The A-Team‘, she clearly has a blast and the audience follows along.
The production’s showstopper belongs to Perry Shields as Cliff Sadler, the head of a news network that has traded real journalism for ratings. Think Rachel Maddow “borrowing“ Stephen Colbert’s gimmick, only intentionally funny. Shields is the straightman serving up yellow journalism with 12 share in the ratings.
Rounding out the cast are Jeremy Palmer as Stanley Hershbert, David McGee as Leo, Adam Shwartz as a late-night talk show host, Jackie Siegle as Connie, Linda Borg as Abby, Tim Blake as Ken, Geoff Lloyd as Russell’s troublemaking best friend Bill, Abby Carlson as Janice, Tree Henson as Ms. Gustafen, who delivers one of the evening’s most memorable onstage deaths, Emmanuel Paredes, Guy C. Van Empel as Agent Turner and Patty Van Empel as Agent Nielsen. Together, they breathe life into what is a one-dimensional story.
Kylie Christensen’s choreography is excellent and gives director Glenn Kelman plenty to work with. Jared Scott’s musical direction keeps the cast sounding strong throughout. With more than 22 musical numbers and numerous set changes, technical director Cary Jordahl, stage managers Julia Bacon, Winter Hagstrom and Lenore Booth, along with sound and scenic designer Jorge Macias, keep the production moving smoothly. Michael Aldapa’s hair design and Diana Mann’s costumes effectively capture the polished yet stifling atmosphere of Washington, D.C.
As a musical, ‘The First Gentleman‘ does not work in its current form. However, with significant rewrites and a stronger embrace of farce, it can become something special. This cast and crew have made lemonade and that sweetness is what audiences will remember.
‘The First Gentleman‘ teas off at the Torrance Theatre Company, running from now through June 27, 2026.
To purchase tickets for ‘The First Gentleman‘ at the Torrance Theatre Company, visit: https://torrancetheatrecompany.com/the-first-gentleman or call the box office at: +1-424-243-6882.
The Torrance Theatre Company is located at:
1316 Cabrillo Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
3.75 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐¾