Assassins is a musical with a difference - about people who have killed or tried to kill the US president of their time. Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim journeys through American musical tradition by bringing characters from different times together, giving the show wide variety. John Wilkes Booth, Charles Guiteau and Lee Harvey Oswald are some of the killers who share their stories and motivations - and others such as Lynette From and Sara Jane Moore, who both failed to kill Gerald Ford.

Action in this production cleverly takes place in a seemingly typical Western saloon with a bar - complete with swing doors and wanted posters, adding tension and suspense. The majority of the characters are on stage all the time, emphasising the atmosphere of a crowded saloon. But some of the actors seem to lose their concentration and appear to be looking at the audience, ruining the illusion of the play.

There's a live four-piece band: Rick Brearley (Bass), Moray MacDonald (Synths), Mark Stormontis (Kit), Richard West (Keys). They're skilled and professional, and there's a strong interaction between cast and band. The rather large cast all sing and act with power and conviction, but some of the performances stand out and take the production to another level.

Simon Radford makes an engaging John Wilkes Booth with energy and passion. Michael Shaw gives an outstanding performance as Sam Byck - a part mainly spoken - as well as a great comical cameo as Billy (Sarah Jane Moore's son). Aleks Kizimovich as Sara Jane Moore gives strong comic presence in spite of appearing to corpse at certain times. Tom Garnett delivers an honest and strangely moving John Hinckley. Ben Star, appearing only at the end of play, makes an oddly sympathetic Lee Harvey Oswald, in a passionate performance. The chorus of bystanders - Hannah Barham, Jon Gracey, Nikki Jones, Rob Richmond - bring great energy and enthusiasm on stage with each of their short appearances.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Hannah Barham - Bystander. Prithham Bhatia - Guiseppe Zangara. Mike Bunch - Proprietor. Will Davies - Ballader. Tom Garnett - John Hinckley. Jon Gracey - Bystander. Nikki Jones - Bystander. Aleks Kizimovich - Sara Jane Moore. Sam Morgan - Bystander. Will Morgan - Charles Guiteau. Simon Radford - John Wilkes Booth. Rob Richmond - Bystander. Michael Shaw - Sam Byck. Anjali Singh - Lynette From. Ben Star - Lee Harvey Oswald. Ollie Stevenson - Leon Czolgosz.

Band Credits: (alpha order): Bass - Rick Brearley. Synths - Moray MacDonald. Kit - Mark Stormont. Keys - Richard West.

Company Credits: Music and Lyrics - Stephen Sondheim. Book - John Weidman. Director - Stephanie Smith. Musical Director - Luke Robbins Ross. Choreographer - Alexia Papaspyrou. Technical Director - Ella Parry-Davies. Producer - Nicholas Boalch. Company - Rather Like a Shark / DULOG. Websites - www.likeashark.co.uk /

END

(c) Trine Garrett 2008

reviewed Monday 18 Aug 08 / Bedlam Theatre, Edinburgh

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com