PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Arden Theatre is usually related to the late composer Stephen Sondheim. This 12 months, it opened its season with its sixteenth Sondheim manufacturing, “Assassins.”
The musical seems to be on the folks all through historical past who’ve killed or tried to assassinate American presidents. Scott Greer performs Samuel Byck, the tried murderer of President Richard Nixon.
“The main target is, I feel, so much much less on the assassinations themselves, however on the assassins as folks,” Greer stated. “It form of explores their background a bit bit, but in addition simply what connects all of them. What’s all this desperation and rage, and the place all of it comes from.”
The present was initially produced off-Broadway in 1990, however Greer stated he sees a selected resonance at this time, as we’ve seen more and more extremist reactions to politics.
“That specific form of populist rage that we had been promised one thing and never given it, and we’re offended about that, is strictly what [Sondheim] was writing about,” he stated.
Monica Horan performs Sarah Jane Moore, who tried to assassinate President Gerald Ford. She stated the present highlights the humanity of the assassins, and whereas their actions had been improper, the viewers can relate to a number of the feelings behind them.
Picture credit score Ashley Smith/Huge Eyed Studios
“What they’re expressing in these moments of brutal outrage that appears like lunacy from the skin comes from a really, very acquainted feeling,” she stated, “the idea that as an American, not solely do you might have the correct to be pleased, you might be entitled to be pleased. And in case you are not pleased, it’s any person else’s fault, and you’ll exit and do what it’s good to do, as a result of it’s your proper as an American.”
The opening quantity, “Everyone’s Acquired the Proper,” makes that case.
As Horan studied her character, she famous the importance in the truth that there are solely two feminine assassins within the present.
“They each didn’t suppose very a lot of themselves,” she stated. “It was in service of males and different concepts. … My murderer, Sarah Jane Moore … was self-sacrificial, like, ‘I’m nugatory. I’m a no one. I can sacrifice myself for this larger trigger.’”
Picture credit score Ashley Smith/Huge Eyed Studios
“Assassins” is often set at a carnival, with a proprietor who’s learning these assassins and a balladeer telling their tales. The Arden’s manufacturing, although, brings the characters collectively in a extra trendy setting.
“We open in a chatroom,” stated Steve Pacek, who performs Charles Guiteau, the murderer of President James Garfield. The stage is ready like a basement, with laptop screens and stay video exhibiting how the characters join on-line.
Picture credit score Ashley Smith/Huge Eyed Studios
Pacek famous that loads of extremist plans at this time are made in chatrooms. “We may be so courageous via our fingertips,” he stated, “as a result of we by no means must look any person within the eye. … I can say no matter vitriol I need to get on the market as a result of I’m harm, and since I don’t agree with one thing … however once you put it on the market into the world, what repercussions that has.”
The actors had been fast to level out that the present isn’t all heavy messages — there’s loads of vigorous music and comedy to steadiness it out.
“The humanity is all there, the anger and rage is all there, however it’s additionally unbelievable music and really humorous at occasions,” stated Greer.
Pacek highlighted a kind of humorous moments: “I do a tune and dance on the best way to get hanged as my character.” He stated the present “will get the viewers laughing and considering, which is a one-two punch.”
“Assassins” has been prolonged on the Arden Theatre in Previous Metropolis via Oct. 29. Tickets and extra data may be discovered on the Arden’s web site.