Could the answer to America’s two party system be a professor who leaves his day job to manage the campaign of the third and oft-forgotten Green Party? As you’ve probably guessed, it’ll never be that easy, but the stories that come out of trying to push against the grain are always worth hearing. Dennis Trainor Jr has set up a one man show about his search for an avenue to make real, palpable change.
Trainor Jr went from teaching Theatre at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, to become a documentarian and a makeshift host of a political Youtube channel. He somehow ended up with the job of being Jill Stein’s campaign manager during the 2016 presidential campaign. Not having gotten over how he landed this gargantuan task, he also had to figure out how to go about executing it. But when he’s disillusioned by the politics within politics that block the road to change and progress, Dennis goes back to his roots as a documentarian and finds meaning in his former purpose.
The one man show is led by the real Dennis in the flesh. It is obvious he is telling his story straight from memories you could see him replay so vividly in his head. There is a real quality to his presence, no tiring glitz and glamour in his performance, which is exactly what makes it immersive. It’s him. He reminds me of the extremely well-read history teachers, every student idolised, that would engage in eloquent political spiels between classes. The writing is rich with imagery, written like an autobiography. Projections of news bites and conversations between Jill Stein’s team signposts the show, while taking you truly behind the scenes of a presidential election campaign. It is highly informative, yet moments of levity and sharp humour maintain a casualness that keeps the audience on Dennis’ side. He’s the guy with a wife and kids down the street, who’s sitting on a pretty big dream.
Though he is a straight white man who reaps the privileges of being one, it’s abundantly clear he lives his life indefensive about that very privilege. Instead he vows to use it for good. He finds himself trying to compel the Green Party to focus on what they can change instead of fooling themselves by fighting a battle from the sidelines. But he realises, he too is fighting from the sidelines. Breaking away from the chains of a devastating political system that elected Trump, he goes to Standing Rock with his camera, and stands with the Native Americans to protect the land from and protest an oil pipeline project.
Dennis’ memorable advice stays with you, warning you off the path of letting dissolution stop you from making a change you want to see. Do what you can, where you can. His relentless commitment to doing something that matters makes the show a joy to watch, and entirely inspiring.
Manifest Destiny’s Child
14:25 @ Assembly Rooms – Drawing Room
Aug 23-27
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/manifest-destiny-s-child
