On July 18th, 2015, I had the opportunity to watch Josiah for President at the Bird-in-hand stage in Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania. The musical revolves around Josiah, who becomes friends with a young politician and eventually becomes a write-in candidate for president. Throughout the show, two main themes are highlighted: honesty and simplicity.
Honesty is prominently portrayed when Harley and Marsha spread a false rumor about Mark, causing him to temporarily withdraw from politics. This incident acts as a catalyst for Josiah’s encounter with Mark and subtly delves into the concept of right versus wrong not just on an individual level but also in relation to America.
The idea of simplicity emerges when Josiah outlines his strategy for running for president and later reveals his official presidential plans. The musical opens with reporter Sara Rodriguez updating election standings during a news report before transitioning to Mark Stedman’s office where he discusses election strategies with his assistant Carl. Here, Mark begins questioning his own motivations for being in the race.
The next scene introduces Harley Phillips, a politician, and his assistants Marsha and Bart. Bart brings humor to the show consistently with his funny antics. Marsha suggests to Harley that they could make one of his opponents drop out of the election by spreading a scandal about them. She comes up with a rumor that Mark Stedman is having an affair with his secretary. Although hesitant at first, Harley realizes the lack of integrity in this plan and understands the potential harm it could cause to Mark’s family. The theme of honesty is prominent in this scene as Harley and his team decide to take a different approach instead.
The following scene takes place in Mark’s office where Sara presents a news report. Afterwards, Mark drives into a ditch and walks to a nearby farm where he meets Josiah, an Amish man. Mark confesses that he is giving up on his presidential run and wants to go home to see his wife. After experiencing Josiah’s simple way of life, Mark questions whether he is suited to lead America and reflects on why he initially ran for office.
Josiah declines the offer to run for president as it goes against his Amish principles and lifestyle. He discusses this idea with the bishop and Elizabeth, his wife. Elizabeth finds it absurd imagining herself as the first lady while Josiah becomes president. Instead of pursuing this further, Josiah attends a farmers’ auction.
During the farmer’s auction, Mark proposes an idea to Josiah. After some banter, Josiah agrees to run for president on the condition that Mark becomes his Vice President. In a separate scene, Harley appears on an interview show called Welcome Tonight! Nervously reading from cue cards, he realizes that his dishonesty is to blame, highlighting the theme of honesty. Later, Mark and Josiah talk with their loved ones Cindy and Elizabeth. They sing together and discuss the importance of leading a simple life with direction, emphasizing the idea of simplicity. Sara Rodriguez gives a news report on election standings followed by the actual election scene where Josiah emerges as the winner. Harley expresses his desire to be part of Josiah’s cabinet and acknowledges personal growth. More news is delivered by Sara while Cindy and Elizabeth share their perspectives on home. Finally, Josiah prepares to deliver his State of Union address but gets shot by StormCloud47. In a funeral scene following this incident, Elizabeth sings a prayer seeking God’s aid in getting through it. Following that, Mark takes over as president and the entire cast joins in singing the closing number.While all the actors and actresses demonstrated good performances, it was evident that certain individuals possessed greater expertise and talent compared to others.
The strongest singers in the show were Daniel Stargel, who portrayed Mark, and Josey Miller, who played Cindy. J. Morgan Shaffo, who portrayed Elizabeth, had a beautiful voice but her acting could have been stronger. Christopher Mauro, who played Bart, provided comedic relief and was highly entertaining. The constantly changing stage set up utilized space efficiently, although a larger stage would have been beneficial. The set appropriately depicted different scenes, with office furniture and a campaign poster indicating various locations. The farm setting consisted of a wooden backdrop painted to resemble a fence.
The simplicity of the set for the farm not only showcased their lifestyle, but also depicted the simplicity of their farm and possessions, as well as their behavior. The lighting resembled concert lighting, utilizing color schemes, mainly red and blue, which represented the United States of America, considering the theme of the show revolved around a presidency. However, there was also a spotlight used for the Sara Rodriguez news scenes. Gunshot sound effects were employed, albeit not the most impressive, but suitable for the small theatre. Furthermore, music played a crucial role in the musical, contributing significantly to the narrative. Costumes were not extravagant; Josiah wore farm clothes initially, while Elizabeth donned a simple amish dress with an apron. Mark wore a suit, tie, and dress shoes. Cindy wore a suit jacket, and Carl wore a suit with black dress shoes. Harley also wore a suit and black dress shoes, accompanied by a colored tie to differentiate from other male characters.
Marsha, Bart, Karen Ledbetter, and Sara each wore different attire. Marsha wore a suit jacket and pants, while Bart wore a dress shirt and tie. Karen Ledbetter opted for a dress, and Sara donned a pencil skirt with a suit jacket. The audience was captivated by the story, thanks to the lively and committed performances from everyone involved. The overall quality of the show was commendable, displaying professionalism among all participants. The actors and actresses demonstrated a strong ability to remember their lines. Additionally, the well-designed costumes, set, lighting, and sound greatly enhanced the show’s impact by effectively conveying its main messages. Reflecting on this play experience, it has become clear that acting is not solely about personal performance but rather about collectively portraying the show’s prevalent themes or messages. To achieve this, full commitment to one’s character is necessary. In summary, the show was highly entertaining, and every individual involved contributed to its success.
