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The Presidency of William Henry Harrison in Real Time: A 10 Minute Play by Steven Hayet

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  • Charles Scott Jones:
    26 Mar. 2022
    “ A short history play for a short presidency that educates as it entertains. I appreciate the insight that it's not the amount of days someone serves but the overall effect of one's service. In light of today's more complicated transitioning of power, Steven Hayet gives us an example of how our democracy ought to work and how it once did after the death of WHH. The humor is a delightful skewering of our modern propensity for measuring a legacy in days and makes me wish for more president plays from Mr. Hayet. ”
  • Elisabeth Giffin Speckman:
    21 Jan. 2022
    “ Funny and witty, this short piece has a surprisingly emotional and poignant moment (particularly in lieu of the 2020 election) hidden within its lightheartedness. A fine tribute to WHH and the office of the presidency--truly. ”
  • Hayley St. James:
    30 Jan. 2021
    “ A thoughtful and fun exploration of what you leave behind as your legacy, as told through the lens of a most unexpected - and by the end, well deserving - American president. And only in ten minutes! History buffs like myself and audiences in general will be charmed by this play on the precedent of presidents and peaceful transfer of power. ”
  • Emily McClain:
    31 Dec. 2020
    “ The Hall of Presidents is *the* most bizarre experience at a Disney theme park (and I'm including the nightmarish hellscape of It's a Small World so that's really saying something) but Hayet's play is smart and chock full of historically accurate tidbits. I had sympathy for Harrison and his very relatable objective to justify his existance to a bored and emotionally distant but powerful clipboard-holding figure. In this elite club of 45 men, who deserves their spot? Harrison makes a strong argument for himself and you'll be a better citizen for reading it! ”
  • Toby Malone:
    30 Dec. 2020
    “ A zippy, irreverent look at the way historical figures will be remembered: no matter what else William Henry Harrison did in his life, he's only remembered for the last month of it. As we stand on the precipice of perhaps the most threatening transfer of power in the nation's history, it's nice to have a reminder that the first time this process was tested reinforced the importance of civil transfer. Here's hoping for one next month. ”
  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend:
    30 Dec. 2020
    “ As a former US history teacher, I am this play's target audience. I was really hoping it would be good, and it WAS. Very smart and very funny while still being very factual - quite a feat! It had me giggling, and it left me thinking about what makes a legacy and why. Delightful work! ”
  • Cheryl Bear:
    5 May. 2019
    “ A hilarious political play. Any American will adore it. A pleasure and very funny! ”
  • Jordan Kilgore:
    25 Jun. 2018
    “ As a sucker for history, I found this short play to be absolutely delightful. Not only is it funny, but it raises good points. How are we remembered, and more importantly, are we remembered at all in the shadows of others? ”
  • Francis RTM Boyle:
    25 Jun. 2018
    “ The burden of insignificance is tough. It is even tougher when you're being judged by a snippy worker who seems to be an intern only interested in doing their job. The heart of this delightful comedy begs the question: how do we judge a person's significance, whether in office or in life?

    Look out, James Garfield. ”
  • Ricardo Soltero-Brown:
    10 Jun. 2018
    “ Hayet is really such a wonderful, clever, and enlightened comic writer. Here he takes a very real circumstance and gives a nearly-forgotten figure of U.S. history an opportunity to fight for his legacy, only to be thwarted by a millennial simply and understandably doing her job. What the employee hears is so incredibly to-the-point that everyone's misbehavior is ingeniously organic, impulsive, and hilariously tragic - all common, recurring qualities in the works of Steven Hayet. ”