Assassins

Assassins
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by John Weidman. Black Swan State Theatre Company . Directed by Roger Hodgman. Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. 16 June - 1 July, 2018

When Luke Hewitt steps on to the stage as The Proprietor, in Assassins, in beautiful voice and a sinister sense of fun, he sets the standard for a high quality, crisply directed production, that is cleverly acted and expertly sung.

Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins is a non-linear work in which we meet the assassins and would-be assassins of American Presidents from Lincoln to Reagan.

Lawrie Cullen-Tait’s impressive brick set forgoes legs or curtaining at the side of the stage and has a vaguely gothic feel. This is a building with history that might be an old theatre, or a warehouse, or a book depository… Evocatively lit by Mark Howett, there is frequent and effective use of projections, designed by Michael Carmody - especially helpful to an Australian audience who may be less familiar with US history. Costumes are a great guide to the era, and are well chosen by designer Lynn Ferguson - although as a child of the seventies, I must point out that the gorgeous Elmo t’shirt is an anachronism.

A small band peek out from the wing space to stage right, a tight performance under the direction of Jangoo Chapkhana, with sound well balanced by Brett Smith. While this is not a huge ‘dance show’ Claudia Alessi’s well executed choreography has a great sense of fun and is part of the reason that this show never feels depressing despite its dark subject matter.

Brendon Hansen plays John Wilkes Booth with depth, playing a highly emotive scene, very early in the show. Will O’Mahony creates a compellingly enigmatic Charles Guiteau, whose death scene (sorry about the spoiler) is a highlight. Cameron Steen is convincing as intense anarchist factory worker Leon Czolgosz. Unsuccessful assassin Giuseppe Zangara is well played by Nathan Stark - who has amazing eyes. Geoff Kelso gives a detachment to Samuel Byck while being fully immersed in his character. 

Mackenzie Dunn, poster girl for this production, is fascinating as Manson-obsessed teenager Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme - a thoroughly absorbing performance. She plays in lovely counter-point to Caitlin Beresford-Ord’s beautifully batty Sara Jane Moore. The duet Unworthy of Your Love with Dunn and Nick Eynaud’s well drawn John Hinkley was another high point. 

The role of the transformative balladeer is a tough one, but recent WAAPA graduate Finn Alexander rises to the challenge in a nicely layered performance.

Great support came from Natasha Vickery as Emma Goldman. Jacob Clayton and Oliver Halusz share the role of the three young boys who appear at various points. On opening night the boys shared the role - but whichever you see, you will not be disappointed. 

We do not often see large scale professional musicals from Western Australia, and Assassins is a wonderful testament that WA talent is up to the task. Assassins is high quality, intelligent, music theatre.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Philip Gostelow.

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