PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Arden Theatre is often associated with the late composer Stephen Sondheim. This year, it opened its season with its 16th Sondheim production, “Assassins.”
The musical looks at the people throughout history who have killed or attempted to assassinate American presidents. Scott Greer plays Samuel Byck, the attempted assassin of President Richard Nixon.
“The focus is, I think, a lot less on the assassinations themselves, but on the assassins as people,” Greer said. “It kind of explores their background a little bit, but also just what connects them all. What is all this desperation and rage, and where it all comes from.”
The show was originally produced off-Broadway in 1990, but Greer said he sees a particular resonance today, as we’ve seen increasingly extremist reactions to politics.
“That particular kind of populist rage that we were promised something and not given it, and we’re angry about that, is exactly what [Sondheim] was writing about,” he said.
Monica Horan plays Sarah Jane Moore, who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford. She said the show highlights the humanity of the assassins, and while their actions were wrong, the audience can relate to some of the emotions behind them.
“What they’re expressing in these moments of brutal outrage that looks like lunacy from the outside comes from a very, very familiar feeling,” she said, “the belief that as an American, not only do you have the right to be happy, you are entitled to be happy. And if you are not happy, it’s somebody else’s fault, and you can go out and do what you need to do, because it’s your right as an American.”
The opening number, “Everybody’s Got the Right,” makes that case.
As Horan studied her character, she noted the significance in the fact that there are only two female assassins in the show.
“They both didn’t think very much of themselves,” she said. “It was in service of men and other ideas. … My assassin, Sarah Jane Moore … was self-sacrificial, like, ‘I’m worthless. I’m a nobody. I can sacrifice myself for this greater cause.’”
“Assassins” is typically set at a carnival, with a proprietor who’s studying these assassins and a balladeer telling their stories. The Arden’s production, though, brings the characters together in a more modern setting.
“We open in a chatroom,” said Steve Pacek, who plays Charles Guiteau, the assassin of President James Garfield. The stage is set like a basement, with computer screens and live video showing how the characters connect online.
Pacek noted that a lot of extremist plans today are made in chatrooms. “We can be so brave through our fingertips,” he said, “because we never have to look somebody in the eye. … I can say whatever vitriol I want to get out there because I’m hurt, and because I don’t agree with something … but when you put it out there into the world, what repercussions that has.”
The actors were quick to point out that the show isn’t all heavy messages — there’s plenty of lively music and comedy to balance it out.
“The humanity is all there, the anger and rage is all there, but it’s also incredible music and very funny at times,” said Greer.
Pacek highlighted one of those funny moments: “I do a song and dance on the way to get hanged as my character.” He said the show “gets the audience laughing and thinking, which is a one-two punch.”
“Assassins” has been extended at the Arden Theatre in Old City through Oct. 29. Tickets and more information can be found on the Arden’s website.