Stephen Sondheim is reputed to be particularly proud of this show, regarding it as one of his finest achievements, as well he might having created (along with writer John Weidman) a real wow of a show with all the American razzamatazz which seems to be an essential part of the would-be Presidents’ campaign trail.
Even before it begins, it’s a real circus of performers in highly colourful costumes, mostly stars and stripes, some with animal heads, dancing, singing and inciting the crowd to join in the spirit of the occasion, encouraging a Mexican Wave which was taken up enthusiastically by the audience. It’s very loud, very noisy and guaranteed to make us feel we want to be part of whatever is happening. They even have the audience counting down to the start of the video footage.
Peter Forbes arrives as the Proprietor, oozing self-confidence and the bonhomie (false or otherwise) befitting an American comedy show presenter, but before going further, a spotlight searches the audience. Each time it settles, one person gets up and rushes on stage. I was particularly pleased with this idea as the spot hit us and the tall man in front muttered "oh my God" and rushed off. Being a short person, I have never had such a good view of the stage before!
Apparently, thirteen people tried to assassinate a President of the United States and four succeeded. This is the story of nine of them, taking us through American political history from 1885 to 1981, with that of President John F Kennedy in 1963 being the most memorable.
The assassins begin with Abraham Lincoln, shot by John Wilkes Booth (a brilliant performance by Danny Mac). This man had, at least in his own eyes, a good reason to get rid of Lincoln as he was "destroying our country." Shame his country meant the Deep South and its reliance on slavery, something which Lincoln intended to abolish.
The strangest and most obsessive murderer was John Hinckley, who believed that if he killed President Ronald Reagan, then the actress Jodie Foster would be impressed. No mention of how Foster thought about this, but I believe he did apologise to her after 30 years of psychiatric care.
“Unworthy of your Love” is sung rather poignantly by Hinckley and Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme (Carly Mercedes Dyer), the latter being one of the followers of the murderer Charles Manson, sure he would lead the world—and she would be his queen. The only other female would-be assassin was Sara Jane Moore (Amy Booth-Steel), and they form a great, comical double act relating their separate unsuccessful attempts to kill President Gerald Ford.
Sondheim is very well aware of the American gun culture and makes a point that every assassination was achieved by gun. The "Gun Song", beginning with a gentle waltz tempo, soon transforms into a strident “Kill a President”. All it needs is "a little finger" and everyone pays attention.
The show is stylish, classy and bitingly funny with Sondheim’s wit and humour evident, but also really scary, thinking about that little finger.
Brilliantly performed and achieved as a complete whole with every single performer and every one of the crew from director (Polly Findlay) to, well, all the others, completely in harmony and singing from the same song-sheet together.
Fantastic!