Mark Russell Brings Political Laughs To Chautauqua Institution
Mark Russell, known for musical-political satire, performs at the Chautauqua Institution Wednesday.
P-J photo by Dennis Phillips
CHAUTAUQUA — Mark Russell, the master of musical-political satire, played his brand of Washington, D.C.-inspired music, making fun of political news and figures Wednesday at Chautauqua Institution. Star-spangled satire, with his trademark piano in tow, Russell spotlighted the outrageous headlines national political figures make on a daily basis. Wielding his wit as deftly as a surgeon wields a scalpel, Russell had plenty of material to use as comedic fodder, from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama to John McCain. In presentations reflective of today’s headlines freshly crafted for each event, Russell turned the Washington, D.C. scene into a musical comedy tour-de-force that left Chautauqua audiences rolling in the aisles. Topics Russell selected to use in his unique musical numbers ranged from today’s high gas prices to Jeremiah Wright to Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s prostitution ring scandal. Prior to singing about the ‘‘historic endorsement’’ a few weeks ago from Mrs. Clinton for Obama, Ru
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