“Assassins” musical director Don Kot (pictured above) introduced the concept of the show to the audience. Kot drew the crowd into the historical mindset needed to watch “Assassins.” (Xavier Delcid/ Photo Editor).
What do Lee Harvey Oswald, Lynette Frome, Samuel Byck, Sara Jane Moore, Leon Czolgosz, John Hinkley, Giuseppe Zangara and John Wilkes Booth have in common? Not only are they all American history’s most deadly assassins, but they are also the titular characters in Stephen Sondheim’s timeless musical of the same name.
The Department of Musical Theatre presented “Assassins” from Jan. 22 to Sunday Jan. 26 in Wadsworth Auditorium. The White Box Theatre created on the auditorium’s stage pulled the audience farther and farther into the group’s world. With the actors only an arm’s length away, the passion and talent of every person on the stage was obvious.
Assassins is a musical revue showcasing the lives of America’s deadliest assassinations and attempts. The show humanizes each historical figure, displaying the reasons why each assassin resorted to killing or attempting to kill the President of the United States.
“We are able to see the stories of every single one of these assassins, each one in a distinct musical styling, giving us a way to understand a story that was truly emotionally devastating,” director and choreographer Melanie Blood said.
The show opens with an introduction to our core cast—including the looming figure of John Wilkes Booth. The complex portrayal of Booth by junior Will Snyder gave unexpected humanity to the character.
“It takes me a long time to get into character every night,” Snyder said. “Booth is in such a dark headspace throughout the show. I really have to place myself into his head.”
The actors behind Guiseppe Zangara, Samuel Byck and Leo Czolgosz were incredible in every way. They brought a thrilling amount of intensity to their roles. With every moment it seemed as if there was a new layer to the characters waiting to be found.
Meanwhile, musical theater majors Kelsey Roberts, Mick Elliot and Patrick Jones—Sara Jane Moore, Billy Bystander and Charles Guiteeau—brought an air of levity that was desperately needed, yet their roles were not simply comedic relief.
Musical theater major junior Ben Bernstein and musical theater major senior Annie Levine—John Hinckley and Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme—go on to steal the show as they perform the number “Unworthy of your Love.” The duo gives the song a refreshing and beautiful rendition that will give you a new appreciation for the musical as well as an interesting and compelling look into their characters.
Though the entire cast excelled in every sense of the word, the most memorable performance of this revue is that of musical theatre major senior Brett Hammes. Hammes provides a spellbinding performance as the Balladeer, only to be transformed into the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald in the final scene.
The two characters are complete opposites regarding their beliefs in assassinating the president. Hammes expressed the challenge of switching characters.
“It’s definitely a confusing shift from one headspace to another. I use all of the frustration from
‘Another National Anthem’ and let it inform my shift into Oswald,” Hammes said.
As the show moves into its climax—Oswald’s assassination attempt—the general public responds to the news of national tragedy, harmonizing together hauntingly in “Something Just Broke.”
Video clips and images of flooded against the theatre’s backdrop. Among these videos were historical events such as the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy, the attack of the world trade center on Sept. 11, 2001 and the Columbine and Stoneman Douglas school shootings.
“It’s difficult to talk about some of these violent topics, but being uncomfortable while talking about it helps and even informs those messages. Having those discomforts helps us strengthen those messages,” Jones said.
With this year being an election year, the show gives us an interesting perspective of our country. It shows the realities of living in a diverse place where we believe anything is possible although that sentiment is challenged almost every day without fail.
Despite challenges, the audience departed remembering that everybody has got the right to their dream.