Everybody’s Got the Right... To Kill a President?

Everybody’s Got the Right... To Kill a President?

Media Release: 25 July 2012

“Many of us Kiwis don’t buy into the American Dream. But somehow it remains an abiding myth in the USA, so much so that some would go as far as to assassinate a President when they feel they haven’t got what they deserve,” says Jonathon Hendry, Head of Acting at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and the director of Assassins. “Luckily, Sondheim’s genius lies in provoking our empathy and sympathy – he’s putting the heart back into assassination!”

Assassins is Stephen Sondheim’s political, surreal, and surprisingly funny look at eight successful and failed assassins of American Presidents from Abraham Lincoln to John F Kennedy. It has had its own ironically political ride – it was supposed to open on Broadway a month or so after 9/11 but didn’t get there until 2004.

“We’re taking a very Noir look at this particular American nightmare,” said Hendry. “The actors are doing some in-depth historical research and we’re allowing our audience to be up close and personal with the characters. I’ve just discovered that Sondheim considered staging this in the Texas Book Depository, which is now a museum. Strangely enough, our concept is that the audience is visiting a living museum, the equivalent of a Madame Tussaud’s style chamber of horrors.”

The second year acting students are being helped in their quest to unravel the secrets and intricacies of Sondheim’s score by Mark Dorrell, who is Assassin’s Musical Director.

This is the third time Dorrell has worked on Assassins – he was the Associate Musical Director and Conductor for the show’s European debut at London’s Donmar Warehouse and Musical Director for a season in Bermuda. He has also worked for the Royal National Theatre, The English National Opera and the Royal Academy of Music alongside many theatrical and musical luminaries.

“I love working with actors,” said Dorrell. “It doesn’t matter their level of experience – in fact the Toi students are quicker to pick things up than the fully professional cast at the Donmar. Mind you, I’ve been working with them in class for 18 months now, so we’ve built up a shorthand, which helps.”

“Assassins is a wonderful piece of music theatre full of great tunes, but with a great book and lyrics as well. It’s a kaleidoscope musically that twists through the different historical periods. Although it’s very difficult to sing the students are doing a fantastic job. In fact it’s the perfect piece for these students because they really fit the roles, nobody is shoehorned in.”

“We joke around the building about Mark having Sondheim on speed dial,” said Jack Buchanan, who plays the Balladeer, a part made famous by Neil Patrick Harris on Broadway. “But it does give you a sense of real excitement and challenge as a performer to have someone that experienced and talented supporting your journey.”

ASSASSINS
Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM Book by JOHN WEIDMAN
ASSASSINS is based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr.
Playwrights Horizons, Inc. – New York City produced ASSASSINS Off-Broadway in 1990
By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)

Where: The Basement, Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown
When: 7pm, Tuesday 7 – Saturday 11 August
Price: $22 full / $15 concessions
Book: https://www.patronbase.com/_TOI/Productions/ASSA/Performances

ENDS

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