Those Who Saw the 2004 Assassins...

[GlindatheGood22]

What do you remember? Since we've been in quarantine it's become my "if I had a time machine" production. I saw the 2017 City Center staging and wasn't crazy about it, but I wasn't as familiar with the show then. 

I've seen That Video, but I wish I could have seen it live, particularly for Denis O'Hare and Becky Ann Baker's performances.

[mar6411]

Two moments that came to mind when I read this post were the Zapruder tape playing across Neil Patrick Harris's white Tshirt, and the guns pointed at the audience as the show ended. 

I loved the show.  I know others have said it wasn't as good as the 1990 version but I didn't see that so have no comparison.  

Also, Dennis O'Hare's performance as Guiteau stands out.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Michael Cervaris’s performance in general, but the scene between “Another National Anthem” and “Something Just Broke” where we see the balladeer transform into Lee Harvey Oswald was incredibly powerful. The end with the Zapruder film playing on NPH’s shirt was something else, but the entire scene that starts with Boothe and Oswald alone was great.

[Shubert Alley Cat]

Agree with the others . . the scene that culminates with the Zapruder film playing on NPH's t-shirt is just brilliant!  I'll never forget it.

Other remembrances:

*Mario Cantone was annoying AF.

*I loved Becky Ann Baker.  Honestly, other than Cantone, the rest of the cast was uniformly superb.

[Jordan Catalano]

Far from the best video ever, but the full show is here.

[Rypm25]

As it’s been said already, the Zapruder footage playing on NPH’s t-shirt instantly comes to mind. I also remember Cantone not being very memorable, however I’ve enjoyed him in other things.

I also remember there being a talk back after the show. Not sure how often they did that but some of the actors came out and talked with the audience about what they had seen if the audience chose to stay.

[GlindatheGood22]

Here's a link of Becky Ann and Denis on Theater Talk. They address talkbacks, audience walkouts,etc.

As I said, I didn't see the production live, but one of the things I love about the recording is that it includes Byck's second monologue ("The woods are burnin', Dick...". I actually think Cantone does it wonderfully - that was one of the moments I was most looking forward to in the 2017 staging, but was disappointed in the end.

[trentsketch]

I remember loving the whole thing.

Becky Ann Baker was so dynamic as Sarah Jane Moore. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I knew the show going in and kept wishing that they'd find a way to give her more to do.

Jeffrey Kuhn terrified me with How I Saved Roosevelt. Neil Patrick Harris' voice was perfect for the Balladeer. The visual of Denis O'Hare dancing up the steps to the gallows is one of the most memorable pieces of choreography in my mind. 

 

[Midnight Radio]

I am well aware that I am in the minority on this, but I cannot stand the addition of 'Something Just Broke'.
In my opinion, it derails the momentum of the show and only exists to placate a (then) grieving nation.

[SonofRobbieJ]

I, too, am in that minority, Midnight Radio.  We have spent zero time with the 'normal' Americans the whole evening and then we have to hear from them.  Eh.  I actually like the song a lot...but I agree that it derails the show and lessens the emotional impact that had been building all night.  That said...it's still one of my favorite productions.  I'm still haunted by the Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver doll that was featured in the opening number as Hinkley came on stage. 

[trentsketch]

I also agree that Something Just Broke doesn't quite work. There is no moment that is quite as sincere in the entire show. Maybe Unworthy of Your Love, but that has the context of who the two assassins are singing to that makes it clear that it's not just a love song.

Something Just Broke is a tonal departure and the only song in the show dedicated to the ensemble. Every other time they appear, it's the story of the assassins told from their perspective. The assassins get the last word after this, but it's 4 minutes onstage dedicated to a completely different perspective and message. I understand the idea and intention on paper. I don't think it works onstage like this. 

[CATSNYrevival]

I thought I remember reading "Something Just Broke" was supposed to be part of the original production at Playwrights Horizons and Sondheim just didn't finish writing it in time.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

"Something Just Broke" doesn't work for me either. It's like, if just before the climax of Chicago, there was a plaintive choral song about the emotional turmoil felt by the friends and family of the people murdered by the prisoners. At that point in the evening, who gives a damn about them? It's totally unecessary. It also sounds like a trunk song from Passion.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Agreed  Another problem is that the ensemble members are simply telling us something we already know.  We ARE the ensemble members.  We are the people who process these acts of violence in the ways the song demonstrates. After being steeped in the minds of these assassins for the whole evening, it feels like a letdown.   

[uncageg]

I enjoyed the whole show. I am not a Mario Cantone fan (Although lately he seems to have mellowed a bit) and was not looking forward to seeing him onstage.

Something Just Broke' gave me goose bumps and flowed beautifully into the reprise of "Everybody's Got The Right".  (It was my first time hearing it and the opening notes just hit me.) It instantly shifted the mood with it's more familiar Sondheim sound. The "Bystander 1's" part of the song after "The President is dead", stuck with me.

As much as I would like to see it again, I think it is one of those shows I want to remember with the cast I saw.

[Hot Pants]

To me, Michael Cerveris’ overall work as Booth was the biggest standout. I also loved Denis O’Hare and Marc Kudisch.

It was a truly incredible production, with so many fantastic moments.

[jacobtsf]

The part that sticks with me still was in “Gun Song”. Dennis O’Hare sings “first of all when you’ve a gun...” and he points his weapon right at the face of an audience member in one of the first rows. There is dead silence, it feels like an eternity goes by, and then this smile slowly creeps across his face and he sings “everybody pays attention”. It showed how, despite how entertaining the performances were, this was still an extremely serious topic.

[GlindatheGood22]

jacobtsf said: "The part that sticks with me still was in “Gun Song”. Dennis O’Hare sings “first of all when you’ve a gun...” and he points his weapon right at the face of an audience member in one of the first rows. There is dead silence, it feels like an eternity goes by, and then this smile slowly creeps across his face and he sings “everybody pays attention”. It showed how, despite how entertaining the performances were, this was still an extremely serious topic.
"

Absolutely, I love this moment. I remember seeing it happen in Sondheim on Sondheim and being stunned by how viscerally my body reacted even though my mind knew I was in no danger.

It also seems that Guiteau handed out a copy of his book to one lucky audience member each night. Has anyone ever been able to track one down? I'm sure it's the sort of thing that went for BC/EFA auctions...

[AADA81]

I think Assassins is far from Sondheim's best score, but I thought this particular production was near perfect, and I thought it vastly superior to the revivals of Into the Woods (2002), Sweeney Todd (2005) and Company (2006).  The staging choices and the performances, especially of Cerveris, O'Hare and Kudisch, were outstanding.  Also, I thought the inclusion of the skittish 'Something Just Broke' added a paranoid poignancy to the latter part of the show that set up the final sequence perfectly.  This production made me completely rethink my perception of Assassins, which always seemed like an unfinished show to me until I saw this.  I also thought the original cast recording was one of the best of the 2000s.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

It is SUCH a fabulous watch at the Lincoln Center Archives. That is one recording I wish could’ve been done for PBS. It’s perfect. It was a perfect production and I highly encourage everyone to go watch it at the library.

It’s just top to toe fantastic.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

I actually thought the minority LIKE Something Just Broke

I think it works because “How I Saved Roosevelt” exists.

And I think it makes Everybody’s Got the Right immediately after that much more gross and unsettling.

[darquegk]

I just watched the first few episodes of the latest F for Family, and it makes me realize how definitive Bill Burr would be as Sam Byck.