"A student production of Assassins, the award-winning musical, was to have premiered Thursday night at Arkansas Tech University, but the administration banned it - and permitted a final dress rehearsal Wednesday night (so the cast could experience the play on which students have worked long hours) only on the condition that wooden stage guns were cut in half prior to the event and not used. Assassins is a musical in which the characters are the historic figures who have tried to kill a U.S. president."I have to admit that I've never seen this Sondheim musical (it premiered on Broadway in the 1990s), so I can't comment on its merits or failings (though several friends have seen it and loved it), and I'd be the first to admit that I don't like the idea of any attempt to glorify an assassin (if the show even does that). But I'd really love for someone to explain to me how cutting prop guns in half accomplishes anything.
Oh, and at the same time on campus they ran the film American Gangster, which offers lots of realistic shootings with "real" guns. Double standards, anyone?
Of course, the school's administration can cancel any show they want, I suppose - but you'd think they could make these decisions before the cast and crew spends weeks of their time rehearsing, making costumes, building sets, printing tickets, etc.
OK, I'll stop venting now.
6 comments:
Boy is this timely. I really want to direct this musical and have been in talks with someone to do it. While "Assassins" does deal with some really tough subject matter, it is, like all Sondheim musicals a piece of social consciousness art. Its plot brings together various assassins throughout history, beginning with John Wilkes Booth and including Ray Harvey Oswald. It doesn't glorify them and is quite clear eyed in its treatment of them as social outcasts and misfits who try to get the attention of the world through the ultimate evil act. The musical is really a commentary on the lengths people go to be paid attention to and remembered. It is timely today because of our fascination with fame and our obsession with minor celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. The most recent revival in 2004 on Broadway won Huntington's own Michael Cerveris a Tony award for best actor in a musical. "Assassins" is an amazing, thought provoking musical that deserves to be seen and talked about.
ohhhh that burns me too, Chuck.
I have the CD, and I love it, but I've never seen Sondheim's "Assassins" performed either because no one has ever produced it locally to my knowledge.
I can't speak about the full effect of the show, but from the impression I get from the score I wouldn't say that it glorifies assassins...it is presented in a series of vignettes that offer a glimpse into the motivations and personalities of assassins or would be assassins.
Some depictions of their motivations are done in a matter of fact, casual way, and to someone looking into their world, it does seem odd and insensitive, but to these people, their thoughts and actions would be totally reasonable and necessary.
My favorite scene (which is presented as a scene of dialogue on the CD) is a meeting between John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald, in the minutes before Oswald shoots JFK. (If that's what really happened)
A Broadway revival of "Assassins" was planned to open in October 2001, but was postponed due to the 9/11 attacks. It didn't open until April 2004, and starred Huntington native Michael Cerveris and Neil Patrick Harris.
I hate to hear that the university production was shut down by the school bureaucracy. It's especially upsetting because we all know what hard work it is to mount a show. You would think that at least they would have shut them down in early rehearsals before they invested all that money and toil.
These are the types of shows I am always interested in seeing, because they offer a glimpse into a world that we are not usually exposed to. Theatre has a personal connection that I don't think film or any other media can touch. Sometimes this is what gets us in trouble. People will watch almost anything in film and won't blink an eye, but put the same content onstage and the reaction is much more intense.
We're in the middle of the run of "The Pillowman" in Charleston, and the reactions of the audience are so interesting. You really get a sense of the ride the audience is taking. This script is extremely well written, and I'm working with some very talented actors, so I knew that if the show found it's audience it would be a success, but (as with "Assassins") the public can often be afraid of a show like this. Fortunately, the audience is with us. Great reviews and an enthusiastic, vocal crowd.
In the audience last night there was a young woman who has been touring the country, seeing every production of "The Pillowman" she can find. Our production was the 34th she has seen. She is writing a book about the experience, and was sitting in the front row, riveted and taking notes.
These types of shows may not have the time-tested reliability of Rodgers and Hammerstein, but they do have an audience and deserve to be produced and seen. If these shows are crushed under the thumb of fear and panic, theatregoers miss out on some truly engaging, amazing works.
Thanks, Chuck, for giving us a forum to discuss these things.
-Ryan
Denise and Ryan, Thanks for the comments. I had to post this story 'cause it really got my dander up. You see stories like this occasionally, where school administrations will cancel a show, apparently out of fear that someone will be offended. As we've discussed, I'm a big believer in age-appropriate shows (thus my condemnation of a version of Sweeney Todd for kids), but it's hard to imagine any reasonable stage topic that wouldn't be acceptable for a college audience. It just makes you wonder - what were they thinking?
I actually think audiences are hungry for more thought provoking material. I have a theory that Huntington theatres could attract bigger audiences if they were a little more progressive in their show choices.
Ryan, I would love to see "The Pillowman." I hope you have a successful run.
Denise, I agree, although I think it might take a little time to build that audience. There have been a few attempts at that kind of "grown-up" theatre group - and there may be more in the near future - but right now, the groups in Huntington (with the exception of Marshall) are focused on family-friendly fare. For some, it may be a matter of financial survival, but for most it's just a matter of choice.
Thanks, Denise! ...and if you do end up being able to produce "Assassins", let me know. I'll definitely be there to see it! We miss you! Hope you guys are doing well.
-Ryan
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