Alverno Alpha : Assassins Proves Arts Thrive in Milwaukee

Assassins Proves Arts Thrive in Milwaukee

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Alaina Craine, Contributor
October 9, 2012
Filed under Arts & Entertainment

As I walked into the Quadracci Powerhouse of The Milwaukee Repertory Theater and took my seat, I stared in amazement at the craftsmanship of a beautiful, western, antique style set. Sitting on the balcony, I leaned over and saw giant ceramic clown heads broken off from what used to be different bodies. They were specifically placed oppositely on the stage and a theme of abandonment rapidly set the tone for the audience. The broken heads provided a dark, comedic starting element to the play and served as a metaphor of what rarely occurs when people are prevented from reaching that promised ?American Dream.? With writing from John Weidman, lyrics and music composed by Leonard Bernstein, and the direction of Mark Clements, the performance of Assassins was outstanding.

Blending fiction with fantasy, Assassins portrays realistic historical assassinations. But, the story truly builds as the assassins grow in their fantasy relationships with one another. The historical timeline of the play intertwines with character development. The play begins as each assassin, except for Lee Harvey Oswald, takes a gun from a circus game entitled ?Shooting Gallery? at an old-style fairground. From there, the characters talk, sing and move among each other?and then the killings start.

The first half-hour of the show started slowly, as all of the assassins emerged onto the stage, all at once. The story of the play begins somewhat vaguely with John Wilkes Booth having multiple conversations with assassins Leon Czolgosz and Giuseppe Zangara. However, after the first couple of killing scenes in the play, the plot becomes clearer. It is amazing how the entire cast, director and writer can make their audience feel empathy towards these fiendish characters.

In particular, actors Sarah Litzinger, Adam Monley and Caroline O?Connor portray their characters with a great deal of comedy and grace. As one of the leading actors, Monley portrays John Wilkes Booth as part evil assassin and part comedic trickster. Monley makes it clear that Booth believed his murder was an act of courage and patriotism, yet also shows that his character has something of an attention disorder. Litzinger, as Lynette Fromme, and O?Conner, as Sara Jane Moore, create amazing and hilarious dynamics between each other?s characters. As the two lead women of the play, these actors create a strong relationship with one another as their characters attempt to assassinate Gerald Ford and humorously fail.

Jonathan Gillard Daly, a Rep Associate Artist, stands out of the belting ensemble of crazy killing characters as the Proprietor of the empty fair grounds. His character is both comforting and slimy, playing host to the lonesome and lost assassins. During parts of the play, Daly stands hauntingly still in his character?s ticket booth. Accordingly, his physical movements are very clear and exact as his character is moving. Daly also has incredible voice variety as a speaker and singer.

I recommend traveling to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and viewing Assassins. With plenty of comedic satire and great acting, this piece is truly amazing.? Some tickets are $20 for students and adults under 35 at most Rep productions with an I.D. Especially in Milwaukee, theater audiences tend to have little young adult population. This company is invested in opening theater to non-traditional audiences. Despite the tough economy, the Rep delivers an affordable theater experience to the Milwaukee community. Assassins proves that the arts still bloom in this city. Performances end on October 7.

Source: http://www.alvernoalpha.com/arts-entertainment/2012/10/09/assassins-proves-arts-thrive-in-milwaukee/

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