The Terms of My Surrender

You might not be shocked to learn that documentarian and activist Michael Moore ("Bowling for Columbine," "Fahrenheit 9/11"), now debuting on Broadway in "The Terms of My Surrender," is aiming his one-man show squarely at an audience that is liberal and Democratic. He makes this abundantly clear from the very beginning, talking about "our side" and the horror that we currently face under the presidency of one Donald J. Trump. But in this entertaining two-hour address, Moore does not just commiserate with the people on his side -- he challenges us.

Starting by pointing out that in the last 30 years, Democrats have won the popular vote in all but one election, his thesis is that "our side" is in fact the majority of Americans. It's actually a combination of gerrymandering and the electoral college keeping us from having the power that we deserve, and that's why it's our responsibility to step up as citizens and make a difference.

So if you're looking an evening of Trump jokes, this isn't the show for you. Moore is plenty critical of the president, but Trump is not really the focus. What "The Terms of My Surrender," which is directed by Michael Mayer, is really about is how we should respond to him and his administration.

That's not to say the show is just some big long lecture. For those who like Moore (and you'd have to be quite a masochist to come to this show if you don't), his charm is that he has a knack for talking about political topics in a way that is engaging and funny without losing sight of their importance to people's actual lives. Here the highlights are some great personal stories that Moore tells about significant moments in his life where he --unexpectedly -- encountered the effect of activism in action.

What's notable about these stories is that they aren't about big marches or rallies full of passionate activists, but rather about how one relatively simple action by one person made a big difference. Moore knows that this country is full of millions of people who agree with him -- millions of people who want to stop Trump's agenda. But he also knows that most have yet to take any real action. In this elaborate pep talk, he's trying to help us see that activism is easier than you think (and that "many hands make light work," as the saying goes).

There are also some particularly serious-minded sections that detour from that theme to touch on other aspects of activism. For instance, he discusses the personal toll that his criticism of the Iraq War took, including having to have bodyguards due to death threats. If that makes someone think twice about speaking out, though, he also talks about the horrid Flint water crisis, which just drives home how much this country desperately needs activists out there holding our government officials accountable.

If all that still sounds a little heavier than what you expect from a Broadway show, don't worry because there are also some silly gags, an impromptu game show with audience members, a little dancing, and even a "Sound of Music" sing-a-long. So go ahead, turn off MSNBC, put down that copy of Mother Jones, quit sharing Washington Post articles on Facebook, and get down to the Belasco Theatre for a highly enjoyable call to action that will leave you ready to get in the fight.

"The Terms of My Surrender" runs through October 22 at the Belasco Theatre, 111 West 44th Street, NYC. For information or tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit www.michaelmooreonbroadway.com