It’s Valentine’s Day 2014, and what could be more fitting than writing a love letter?
Dear Zoetic Stage,
I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love. Your production of Assassins has me mesmerized. Twelve hours later the scenes still flash by; I’m back in the Arsht Center inhaling every movement, every song, every word from your brilliant cast.
Photographer: Justin Namon
Assassins - Nicholas Richberg (Booth) & Kristian Bikic (Ensemble).
Okay, so maybe that’s a little over the top, but the truth is that the emotion that struck me hardest during this show was pride. These actors, this director, are good, really good and we’ve got theater here in South Florida that’s equal to any, anywhere.
Nine men and women have tried to murder US Presidents since Lincoln’s night at the theater. Some were successful, others not, and these nine are the subject of Assassins, a strange choice for a musical at first blush. But Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics and John Weidman the book and the result was four Tony awards in 2004.
Photographer: Justin Namon
Assassins-Shane Tanner (Proprietor), Gabriel Zenone (Guiteau), Chris Crawford.
Zoetic’s production, its first musical, verges on the astonishing. Directed by Stuart Meltzer it stars, in order of appearance, Shane Tanner, Nick Duckart, Clay Cartland, Gabriel Zenone, Henry Gainza, Chaz Mena, Lindsey Forgey, Irene Adjan, Nicholas Richberg, Chris Crawford and ensemble members Kristian Bikic, Stephanie White and Aidan Neal.
Photographer: Justin Namon
Assassins - Irene Adjan (Moore) & Lindsey Forgey (Fromme).
Each is near perfect in performance and each has moments to shine. Nicholas Richberg in the showy role of John Wilkes Booth, Chaz Mena with two monologues that would get him cast to the end of his days, the high comedy of Irene Adjan and Lindsey Forgey, Shane Tanner’s hilarious moment as Gerald Ford. I know. It’s mean to the other actors to list just a few instances of pure theater; the entire evening is full of work to wonder at.
Photographer: Justin Namon
Assassins.
Assassins is staged on a simple three level wooden set with crates and boxes for furniture. Michael McKeever designed it and the excellent lighting is by Ron Burns with sound design by Stuart Meltzer. Alberto Arroyo designed the period perfect costumes. Terrific live musicians of course for a show such as this: Caryl Fantel, conductor/keyboards; Andrea Gilbert, woodwinds; Greg Chance, guitar/bass/banjo and Roy Fantel, drums/percussion.
Photographer: Justin Namon
Assassins-Nick Duckart (Czolgosz), Shane Tanner (Proprietor), Clay Cartland (Hinckley).
I could sit through this show again and again.
A co-production of Zoetic Stage and the Adrienne Arsht Center, Assassins plays through Sunday February 23 in the Carnival Studio Theater, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami. 305-949-6722 w
