• Theatre

    The White House Murder Case

    The White House Murder Case

    San Jose Stage Company

    April 4-April 29, 2007

    Avg. Event Rating (3.4 Stars): 3.5 out of 5 stars rating Add Review/Comment

    Dubbed a “killer farce” by Time magazine in 1970 when it made its initial off-Broadway run, The White House Murder Case skewered the political climate of the time. A generation later, Jules Feiffer’s Obie Award-winning satire still resonates with its strangely familiar story of a President engaged in an increasingly unpopular war. As he and his Cabinet try to put a positive spin on a poison gas attack gone wrong, not to mention a murder in the Oval Office, the situation careens further and further out of control, with hilariously lethal results.

    • Ticket Info

      Tickets: $20-$45

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    • Dates & Times

      Dates:
      April 4-April 29, 2007

      Times:
      Wed-Thurs: 7:30pm
      Fri-Sat: 8pm
      Sun: 2pm

    • Venue Info

      San Jose Stage Theater

      490 S. 1st Street San Jose, CA 95113

      Full map and directions

    • Accessibility Info
      • Wheelchair Access

    • NOTE: We do our best to ensure all information is accurate, however it's a good idea to visit the website or call the venue to verify the information.

    • Member Reviews

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      • Event Name: The White House Murder Case
        3 out of 5 stars rating "“WHITE HOUSE” Still Has It’s Edge"
        Review posted by: Lee Kopp from San Jose, CA, Apr 10, 2007

        It seems San Jose Stage Company is never afraid of taking chances. When I first heard that they were planning on doing a Jules Feiffer piece nearly 40 years old, I must confess I had my doubts. But... Expand

        It seems San Jose Stage Company is never afraid of taking chances. When I first heard that they were planning on doing a Jules Feiffer piece nearly 40 years old, I must confess I had my doubts. But this script still works. It is still funny, still relevant and still frightening. The spin STARTS here. The quick cuts between the Oval Office and the battlefield keep the action from becoming one-dimensional. Kudos to director Ray Garrett and lighting designer Peter Soracco for an imaginative solution to that staging challenge. The cast is terrific, top to bottom, but special note should be given to Randall King, Kevin Blackton and Gary S. Martinez for knowing just how far to take these "over the top" characters without crossing that fine line into the absurd. And a nice turn by William Ontiveros, who spends most of the show sitting and reacting to events before paying off the last scene with a strong and believable exclamation point to the script. A fun evening of theater. Collapse

      • Event Name: The White House Murder Case
        3.5 out of 5 stars rating "The more things change..."
        Review posted by: Ron from Artsopolis from Sunnyvale, CA, Apr 09, 2007

        ...The more they stay the same. Saw this very funny show on opening night. There are so many connections to our current government (that of course weren't planned by the playright), that it's great to... Expand

        ...The more they stay the same. Saw this very funny show on opening night. There are so many connections to our current government (that of course weren't planned by the playright), that it's great to enjoy jokes that ring home in the present. The show needed an audience for opening night, and it was nice to see the actors flex their timing and comedy muscles to take advantage of an appreciative audience. I especially enjoyed the actor playing General Pratt - good (and thorough) comic timing. The President also had just the right touch of slick, car-salesman political personality. There's a message to the story of course, but there is plenty of comedy to go along with it, so you don't feel overwhelmed. And I LOVE what San Jose stage has done with the combat scenes - didn't even know the theatre space could be used that way. I enjoyed the show - one of the best I've seen at San Jose Stage! Collapse

      • Event Name: The White House Murder Case
        3.5 out of 5 stars rating "Jules Feiffer Still Relavent"
        Review posted by: Tom Arnold from Eugene, Oregon, Apr 09, 2007

        Opening night of The White House Murder Case demonstrated that Jules Feiffer's 1970 anti-war topical play is still relevant 37 years after it was first staged. SJSC's production is well cast,... Expand

        Opening night of The White House Murder Case demonstrated that Jules Feiffer's 1970 anti-war topical play is still relevant 37 years after it was first staged. SJSC's production is well cast, imaginatively staged, and quite funny. My only gripe with the set was that the back stage should have been two feet higher for better visibility. The actors were uniformly good, with an outstanding performance by Randall King as General Pratt, playing the role very close to, but not quite over, the top. Once the opening night jitters are over and with perhaps just a little faster pacing (say, shortening the running time by five to ten minutes), The White House Murder Case will bubble over with its pithy political humor. Collapse

      • Event Name: The White House Murder Case
        3.5 out of 5 stars rating "Topical piece with humor and talent"
        Review posted by: Susannah from San Jose, Ca, Apr 09, 2007

        Great Chemisty and topical content make this production well worth the gander over to San Jose Stage. The cabinet members do an outstanding job of interacting and though the humor in light of current... Expand

        Great Chemisty and topical content make this production well worth the gander over to San Jose Stage. The cabinet members do an outstanding job of interacting and though the humor in light of current political situations might seem a bit dark, there certainly was laughing. This Short show entertains and as always the set and lighting really optimize this intimate yet complex space. Collapse

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