Review: In A World Disgruntled With Its Leaders, Sondheim's ASSASSINS Is The Perfectly Timed Peak Into The Past

Tuesday 19th September 2017, 7:30pm, Hayes Theatre

The mystery of what motivates a person to murder for political reasons plays out in Hayes Theatre Co's latest perfectly crafted production ASSASSINS. Under Dean Bryant's direction, what many would think would be an unlikely subject for a musical comes to life with an energetic, emotional and thoroughly engaging interpretation of the Stephen Sondheim's sideshow story of the successful, and not so successful attempts on the lives of the Presidents of the United States.

In a surreal carnival shooting gallery, America's most famous disgruntled, disenchanted and disenfranchised misfits, loners, and revolutionaries of the past century and a half gather to take aim at images of the Presidents of the United States. This motley group is led by John Wilkes Booth (David Campbell), the man that the redneck Proprietor (Rob McDougall) of the side show stall considers to be the pioneer who paved the way for the rest of the gathered assassins but the Balladeer (Maxwell Simon) viewed as a madman who's legacy has inspired others to damage the country he loves. Over the course of the 1 hour 45 minute performance the gathered group air their grievances with musical hall panache, indicating their level of success in dispatching their targets and the resulting punishment returned by the establishment.

Costume and Set Designer Alicia Clements transports the audience into the fantastical world of the carnival with neon signs, twinkling lights and moving parts, all set on a mirrored stage which reflects the reality with a revealing distortion. Clements captures the essence of each character with costumes which range from the Victorian formality of the mid 19th century to the long lines and headscarfs of the 1970's and the Santa Suit that Samuel Joseph Byck (Justin Smith) once wore to protest at the White House, prior to his attempt on Richard Nixon. Whilst some scenes rely on the text and the performance to indicate the scene, the innovate and artful drawing of focus to parts of the multitude of pieces on stage helps give context to the stories as they weave in and out of each other. Ross Graham's lighting, further reflected in the flooring combines with Clements' set to echo mood and suspense, drawing focus to the story at hand or bringing the rest of the ensemble out of The Shadows. Musical Director Andrew Worboys and his small band interpret Sondheim's score wonderfully, providing a solid support for the work which is filled with a variety of musical styles, from vaudeville and barbershop to country, and even incorporating the arcade sounds of pinball machines, infusing energy and emotion into the work.

As the central catalyst for the stories, David Campbell ensures that Lincoln's killer, John Wilkes Booth is seen as part psychopath part revolutionary leader as he weaves his way around each story, influencing and inspiring people to become something more than ordinary and make the choice to do something rather than just sitting back and accepting what their leaders are dishing out. Campbell gets inside Booth's mind to present the intricacies of the man Sondheim imagined would enjoy spurring new generations to making a statement with the aid of a gun, delivering meaningful little sneers and unbridled glee all whilst engaging with the audience through eye contact.

Whilst James A. Garfield's killer Charles Julius Guiteau is less prominent in the history books, Bobby Fox delivers an engaging performance as the aspirational writer and lawyer who had is sights set on being appointed to the position of Ambassador to France. Fox portrays the attention hungry, highly religious Guiteau with vaudeville flair, delivering Andrew Hallsworth's creative choreography which helps illustrates the dandy's dance to the gallows. In contrast to Guiteau's middle class refinement and flair, factory worker Leon Frank Czolgosz (Jason Kos), who, inspired by anarchist Emma Goldman (Laura Bunting), shot William McKinley is a grittier, angrier individual and Kos presents the raw rebellion borne out of basic wage and horrendous working conditions. Bunting's brief appearances as Goldman present the sterotype of the turn of the century woman who had found a voice in the same way as the women's suffragettes rallied for their cause with a gentleness associated with the fairer sex of that era but also a tenacity that said they were no longer going to sit at home and sew.

Martin Crewes presents Giuseppe "Joe" Zangara, the immigrant anarchist, with a solid Italian accent and a permanent stoop, bought about by the debilitating pain in his abdomen. Crewes captures Zangara's defiance at being sentenced to the Electric chair whilst also being disgusted that the media focus is on the preening bystanders jostling for airtime as they claim they saved Roosevelt rather than his execution. Zangara's ghost's pleading with Lee Harvey Oswald (Maxwell Simon) to carry on the legacy of the Assassins so they may be remembered is powerful and passionate in its message, interpreted by the rest of the spirits.

Whilst all are mentally unstable, Justin Smith's Samuel Joseph Byck is probably the more sinister in his impassioned plea to Leonard Bernstein to make the world better with more love songs, intended to played back on tape recorder. The grubby image of a mall Santa blended with Smith's physicality and the bizarre recording that is initially relatively calm is incredibly unnerving. Smith's ability to give a maniacal impression shows how unhinged Byck was as he made his final approach to the airport, recording his final message, this time to his intended target, Richard Nixon.

Given that the only two women to make an assassination attempt both targeted Gerald Ford, within 17 days of each other, Sondheim has woven their stories together, having the housewife and the mass murderer's lover keep meeting in a playground. Kate Cole portrays the inept Sara Jane Moore whilst Hannah Fredericksen takes on the role of the lovesick Lynette Alice "Squeaky" Fromme. Cole presents Moore as overeager and a little overbearing as a caricature of a happy soccer mom whilst Frederickson captures the spaced out hippie who has lapped up all of Charles Manson's philosophies. Frederickson's duet with Connor Crawford as John Warnock Hinkley Jr is beautiful and poignant as the Fromme and Hinckley contemplate their loves. Crawford's portrayal of Hinkley Jr captures the characteristic social ineptitude of a loner in the late 20th century, isolated and unrealistic in his obsession with movie star Jodie Foster that led him to the notion that taking a shot a Ronald Reagan will get the young star's attention and affection.

Sondheim's structuring of the work as the optimistic Balladeer, narrating the stories and holding the view that these killers have damaged the American Dream, morphing into the most famous of the modern era assassins, Lee Harvey Oswald strikes a chord in the contemporary world dealing with leaders who many see as ineffective and reckless. Maxwell Simon gives these roles an innocence and a hope that is eventually eroded in favour of the infamy that the circling spirits promise. As the Balladeer, Simon ensures that there is a counter to Booth's assertions that the assassinations are necessary and that the perpetrators will 'win'. As Oswald, he presents the man's confusion as to what would make his life better, originally intending to commit suicide until the voices convince him that he'll fade into obscurity if he follows that path.

ASSASSINS, presented by the same team that delivered the award winning SWEET CHARITY is another stunning production that brings lesser performed musical theatre to Sydney audiences. Bright, inventive, inspiring and informative, this is presented with heart and humour by a stellar cast and collection of creatives. Hayes Theatre's first foray into Stephen Sondheim's fabulous modern age musical will hopefully be the start of many more interpretations of the Godfather of musical theatre's productions. A definite must see and for people interstate, hopefully this will one day tour.

ASSASSINS

From 15th September 2017

Hayes Theatre, Potts Point