Genre:Drama
Written by: Herman Daniel Farrell III
Directed by: Herman Daniel Farrell III
Performed by: Gabriela Kohen
Running time: Two hours, 30 minutes
Web site: republicnotanempire.com

Two pairs of lovers, one Pro-Gore, the other Pro-Bush, meet at the 2000 Florida recount. Tension builds between the couples as their clashing political views and tangled amorous pasts (two of them had a bipartisan relationship in college) turn banal conversation into relentless arguing. After parting ways in 2000, the four of them are forced back together after 9/11, when the Democratic woman becomes pregnant by the Republican man during a mutual swap of sexual partners (alas, the Republican woman is barren). While they've been political opponents all along, now, with jealousies incensed, they're at each other's throats, especially during the custody battle over the baby—a heavy-handed metaphor for fought-over Jerusalem. Despite the moral of the story (an oversimplified plea for harmony reminiscent of Rodney King declaring, "Can't we all just get along?)", it's obvious that their peaceful coexistence is impossible and you couldn't care less about their annoying war of attrition. This exhausting, two-and-a-half-hour drama plays like a dense CliffsNotes version of CNN coverage 2000-2004, rehashing moments and rote arguments which everyone already knows all too well.—Denise Penny

• Where: Linhart Theatre at 440 Studios
• When: Sat, Aug 14 at noon; Thu, Aug 19 at 8:45 p.m.; Wed, Aug 25 at 7:45 p.m.; Thu, Aug 26 at 3 p.m.; Sat, Aug 28 at 5:30 p.m.