The upcoming Presidential election has made this theatre season fodder for political plays, musicals and comedies. The latest to take advantage of this is Billy Pacholski's version of Stephen Sondheim's ASSASSINS, which recently opened at the Viaduct Theatre. Pacholski's version comes on the heels of Milwaukee Rep's stellar production by Brit director Mark Clements. The two could not be more different in style and vision and both are worthy in their own right.
Pacholski strips away much of the grandeur of his predecessors and gives an in-your-face look at psychosis of these various killers (and almost killers). This is an actor-centric production and succeeds on most every level. Since I just reviewed another production, I will leave the dramaturgical history alone here, suffice to say that as with later Sondheim works, the book by John Weidman is at times genius while at others, incoherent at best. Pacholski also uses the 2004 Broadway revival version in which the Balladeer becomes Lee Harvey Oswald, which creates an odd character arch for the actor to play, however Sam-Button Harrison succeeds where many other actors have failed. His mannerisms and method from a narrator to the assassin of Kennedy is chilling and makes the through line understandable