This is absolutely fascinating, and brings into sharp relief just how unlikable Hillary seemed, and how much of her debate prep was a gross miscalculation. There was a misogynistic assumption that a female candidate had to be unemotional, stick to facts and policy, and smile, smile, smile to be taken seriously.
Female Donald Trump comes across as a feisty crusader speaking truth to power, which is exactly how those who embraced him were inclined to see him. Of course, first of all, it's not Donald Trump, second of all, what comes across as thuggish and predatory from a man looks heroic coming from a woman, and it's still the same unhinged, verbal diarrhea, just in a nicer package.
That was the frustrating thing about these debates. I saw Hillary blow Trump out of the water on substance, but coming across as smug, smarmy, and fake in the process. I always though, if she were a man we wouldn't have such a negative reaction. This play challenges that assumption. Hillary came across as smug, smarmy, and fake because she's not a people person, and forcing her to somehow be more personable always backfired.
Still, the debates were a Rorschach test. You saw what you were predisposed to see. They didn't seem to move the needle much in either direction.
