Event Article

Exploding the stage with gunfire, intriguing monologue and live .orchestra music, "Assassins" successfully entertained audience members last Thursday in the Campus Theatre.

Its unusual and controversial introduction on how and why to· kill a president shacked all who watched.

Jonathon Petersen realistically portrayed John Wilkes Booth whose presentation gave insight the audience into why he chose to kill Abraham Lincoln.

Petersen's costume was outstanding resembling this historical assassin with his old-fashioned hairstyle, dark mustache and wonderful costume design.

Character Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme's outlandish obsession with Charles Manson gave the audience a laugh as she confessed her ongoing attraction to such · a dirty individual ·in a humorously explicit and ridiculous way.

The audience was also amused watching character Sarah Jane Moore target practice with a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, pretending that Colonel Sanders was her prospective victim.

Adam Harold caused a roar of laughter that spread throughout the audience as manic depressive character Samuel Byck got the best of him. He humorously expressed uncanny thoughts that broke away from the productions serious topic turning assassination into a mockery.

Observing Byck in his dirty, tattered Santa suit caught the eye of many audience members. The costume caused viewers to realize the pathetic personality as he cried out . for attention, yelling to the audience about his insane plan of destruction.

The angry high tempered Giuseppe Zangara, played by Tony Quinn, shocked the crowd with his hot-headed dialogue and unsympathetic manner. Zangara's execution captured the crowd as he towered over the audience reciting his reasoning behind murder before being put to death by electric chair.

Darkness was checkered by dim, bizarre lighting adding intensity to the scene. Thus, creating a realistic impression that haunted the mind of audience members.

Unusual characters and controversial issues kept this play overflowing with diversity, providing a production filled with controversy.

Loud cap guns kept viewers on the edge of their seats as the next shot soon became an anticipated thrill ride through the< unpredictable. ·

This chaotic production gave theatre enthusiasts a musical like no other.

Overall, "Assassins" was a successful production despite minor technical difficulties with sound. Microphone malfunctions made it hard to hear the actors and articulating their words became challenging at times.