Theatre / Reviews
Review: Assassins, Little Black Box Theatre
The Little Black Box Theatre certainly lives up to its name. It’s tiny, formed from a converted shop on Redland’s Chandos Road, meaning that not one of the 30 audience members is ever more than a few feet away from the action. Snuggled in the midst of its community, this theatre is an under-appreciated gem that is well worth keeping an eye on.
The bijou stage is packed for this production of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins. A cast of 10 present a convoluted exploration of the sad and frequently bitter minds of those who have sought to assassinate presidents of the United States. Guided by the strong personality of John Wilkes Booth – who shot Abraham Lincoln – this tumble through American history explores the power of the gun, the anguish of the dispossessed and the quest for validation and recognition which drove this motley crew of social misfits to open fire on their president.
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Like most Sondheim musicals, Assassins is rarely staged, so for fans of his work this is an unmissable opportunity, made all the more powerful by its chamber theatre setting. Of necessity, it’s a stripped-down production – there’s hardly room on the stage for the whole cast, let alone much in the way of set – but this enhances rather than diminishes its power. Staring straight into the eyes of a Presidential killer as he sings about the wonders of his gun is quite chilling.
This may not be Sondheim’s finest work – the spoken sections sometimes seem overlong, and some of the songs appear to be an attempt at pastiche, including one which is uncomfortably reminiscent of The Carpenters. Whilst the cast do not all have the strength of voice needed to carry off some of Sondheim’s more intricate numbers, the ensemble pieces combine to powerful effect.
Although not perfect, it’s still well worth Sondheim lovers heading over to Chandos Road – not just to sample a work from the master, but to feel the thrill of live theatre up close and utterly personal.
Assassins continues at The Little Black Box Theatre, Redland until Saturday, June 20. For more info and to book tickets, visit thelittleblackbox.net/new-events