Capitol Steps mark 30 years of political mayhem

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The Capitol Steps

Updated: January 27, 2012 10:45AM

The good thing about satirizing the foibles of our government is that you never run out of material. Even so, when Elaina Newport cofounded Capitol Steps with other Senate staffers she never dreamed she’d still be doing it 30 years later.

“We imagined that we’d either be fired or told to stop,” Newport said. “We were serious Senate staffers thinking that this was our career. We tried it once and we thought somebody’s got to say, ‘That’s enough,’ but nobody did.”

Their legion of fans across the country are grateful that the powers that be apparently have a sense of humor. The Capitol Steps return to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts for five performances, Thursday, Jan. 26-Sunday, Jan. 29. Their constantly updated material will include numbers from the Capitol Steps’ new album, “Desperate Housemembers.”

All of the presidential candidates will be satirized by the group that proudly announces on its website, “We put the Mock in Democracy.” “We even still have Herman Cain,” Newport said. “We think Herman Cain is still funny for about three months.”

Everyone a target

Of course, President Obama, Vice President Biden and Nancy Pelosi will get equal time.

Selections from the new album include “Fun Fun Fun ‘til Obama takes Our Tea Bags Away” and “Memoirs” (to the tune of “Memories”), about the former prez’s current writing project.

Newport, who does about half the writing for the shows, said that once in a while, for about five minutes, “We think the politicians are going to get quietly competent and solve everything.” That fear soon passes — and the fun continues.

“We like to think they’re thinking of the comedians,” Newport said. “Because if we don’t think that, then we think that they’re really incompetent and that’s much scarier.

Newport noted that the Capitol Steps have occasionally been accused of starting scandals to generate material, “like calling up Monica Lewinsky and telling her to keep the dress,” Newport said. “We actually don’t have that kind of power. I wish we did.”

Many Steps

The standard Capitol Steps contingent of five performers and a pianist will be coming to the North Shore Center. The group is so popular that there are more than 30 performers entertaining audiences around the country. Deciding who goes where when can be a comedy routine in itself since different performers take specific roles. “You don’t want five people who look like Barack Obama in the same cast,” Newport joked.

Newport, who worked for four years as a legislative aide to the late Senator Charles Percy, makes most of the Chicago appearances. “I love coming out there. It’s kind of a tradition for me — and I’m coming back,” she said.

Although former Governor Blagojevich earned a number in last year’s North Shore Center shows because of his shenanigans, the group generally concentrates on national headlines. “National stories and the political primaries are keeping us pretty full,” Newport said. “If there was a local scandal that was huge, we’d try to mention it.” Hear that, local politicians?

Blagojevich does get a mention in the closing number, “30 Years in 3 Minutes,” which celebrates the group’s history. “We try to hit the highlights of what was funny over 30 years very rapidly without injuring ourselves,” Newport said.

Hopefully no audience members will be injured, either, even though they are in danger of splitting their sides laughing.