Music and
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim -Book by John Weidman
Directed by
Dean Bryant - Choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth
Musical
Direction by Andrew Worboys - Set and Costumes designed by Alicia Clements
Lighting
designed by Ross Graham - Sound designed by Nick Walker
Presented by
Hayes Theatre Company
Hayes
Theatre 19th September – 22nd October 2017
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
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| "Assassins" cast |
Stephen
Sondheim always expected that the content of this dark musical would disturb
people. He intended that it should. He could not have predicted however, that,
nearly 30 years later, at a time when two world leaders compete to convince us
that the only way to solve their disagreement is nuclear war, the content of
his musical would resonate even more powerfully.
His characters
are a group of historical misfits, all with the same idea, that the only way to
solve their problems is to kill a president. Some were successful, other’s not
so. But the real shock of this show is the guilty pleasure derived from the
entertaining way the dilemma of each of these unfortunates is depicted.
Dean
Bryant’s brilliant production has the action taking place among the detritus of
a decaying amusement park, complete with carnival lights, a rusting dodgem car
and discarded merry-go-round horse. The audience enters the theatre to discover
a sleeping figure. On his lap is a book, with the word ‘Trump’ prominently
displayed on the cover, and a haranguing political speech emanating from the
radio by his side.
As the
various characters are introduced by the balladeer (Maxwell Simon, who later
doubles, rivetingly, as Lee Harvey Oswald), to the upbeat “Everybody’s Got the
Right”, each is handed a gun, with the promise that it will solve their
problems.
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| David Campbell as John Wilkes Booth |
The mood
changes with the entrance of David Campbell as John Wilkes Booth, the actor who
shot Abraham Lincoln during a theatre performance. Campbell, charismatic and almost
unrecognisable in wig and facial hair, dominates the stage in all his scenes, particularly
during “The Ballad of John Wilkes Booth”, and later in a chilling scene in
which he manipulates and coerces the hesitant Lee Harvey Oswald into killing John
F. Kennedy.
Campbell is
surrounded by an outstanding ensemble which includes Bobby Fox, compelling as
the wild-eyed Charles Guiteau, whose failed attempt to assassinate President
Garfield, led to his execution at the gallows. Martin Crewes is an intense Giuseppe Zangara,
driven to desperation by stomach pains.
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| Bobby Fox (Charles Guiteau) and Jason Kos (Leon Czolosz) in "Assassins" |
Hannah Fredericksen captures the spaced out fragility of Charles Manson devotee,
‘Squeaky” Fromme) whose failed attempt to kill President Ford, brought her in
to contact with the similarly incompetent Sara Jane Moore (portrayed by Kate
Cole with delicious comic malevolence), who had the same target in her sights but
only managed to kill her dog.
Dressed in a
tacky red Santa Clause costume, Justin Smith is unsettling as Samuel Byck who
spends his time writing critiques to Leonard Bernstein, while Laura Bunting
(Emma Goldman), Connor Crawford (John Hinkley Jnr.), Jason Kos (Leon Czolgosz),
and Rob McDougall (The Proprietor) all provide
memorable performances in a cast in which there are no weak links.
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| Connor Crawford (John Kinkley Jnr) and Hannah Fredricksen (Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme) in "Assassins" |
Superb singing,
together with excellent diction and admirable sound design, allows Andrew
Worboy’s gutsy band to do full justice to Sondheim’s surprisingly accessible score
without compromising his brilliant lyrics. Outstanding lighting design, coupled
with the shiny stage surface and Andrew Hallsworth’s inventive choreography fascinates
the eye into believing that everything is taking place in a much larger space
than the tiny Hayes Theatre.
“Assassins”
is certainly not your usual musical romp. This superbly staged realisation of
one of Stephen Sondheim’s most disturbing musicals challenges and entertains in
equal measure, making it a brilliant addition to the list of outstanding
productions by the Hayes Theatre Company. It should not be missed by anyone
seeking an exceptional music theatre experience.
Photos: Phil Erbacher
This review also appears in Australian Art Review. www.artsreview.com.au