Theater Review: 'Assassins' at Brookfield Theatre

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Naugatuck Patch neighbor Nancy Sasso Janis

Brookfield Theatre has launched their 69th season with a production of “Assassins” that opens on Friday the 13th. This musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, who died in 2021 at his home in Roxbury, and a book by John Weidman is not for the faint of heart.

In this multiple Tony Award-winning musical, our nation's highest-reaching criminals gather on stage to attempt to claim their special place in history. The show cannily explores our nation's particular culture and the violent means some will use to obtain their own version of the American Dream.

The script comes off as original, bold, and certainly disturbing. It includes some funny bits, but the audience may find it inappropriate to laugh given the subject matter.

Press materials from the theater note that "Assassins" is “perhaps the most controversial musical ever written. Bending the rules of time and space, Sondheim and Weidman take us on a surreal roller-coaster ride where killers and would-be killers from different eras interact and provoke each other into harrowing acts.” President Lou Okell, the show’s producer and tech director, writes that this dark comedy musical “takes us down unusual twists and turns in our nation’s history.” That pretty much sums up what to expect.

Brookfield Theatre's production is directed by Òran Matheson in his directorial debut with Brookfield Theatre. Matheson is the founder and artistic director of the Trans Repertory Theater, now in its inaugural season, with “The Importance of Being Earnest” coming up this fall. (The director understudies Hinckley on March 6 and 7.)

The director makes very good use of the intimate space and facilitates fine performances from the cast who must be strong singers and convincing actors. There is some light choreography in a few numbers. Musical Director Joy Giuseffi has worked with the singers on the always challenging Sondheim score and plays keyboard in the pit.

“From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald and beyond, audiences get a peek into this strange group of people, how they connect to one-another, and how they have embedded themselves into the story of the United States.”

Steven Taliaferro, who recently appeared in the Boar’s Head Festival in Waterbury, gives a strong performance in the role of John Wilkes Booth. The multi-talented Jason Styka (“She Loves Me” in Brookfield) stands out in the role of Charles Guiteau.

Matt Austin shows his admirable versatility as the Italian Giuseppe Zangara. Austin donned the Santa Suit 20 years ago as Sam Byck in the last Brookfield production of “Assassins,” and has appeared in more than 100 productions in the tri-state area.

Sean Latasa masters the rambling monologues of Sam Byck, dressed in the required Santa suit. Latasa calls this his dream role in one of his favorite shows.

Emma Burke-Covitz takes on the role Charles Manson follower Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme and Tanya Wills easily brings out all of the comedic elements of Sara Jane Moore

Eric Lewin is on point in the role of John Hinckley in their Brookfield debut. Pedro Cuoy, a student at Danbury High School, tackles the accent of Leon Czolgosz,

Izzy Porter makes her Brookfield debut as the Balladeer and briefly plays the guitar that she carries. Porter appeared in the memorable “Sweeney Todd” and “JCS” at Downtown Cabaret. Lewin is the Balladeer understudy.

Emma Duffy makes her entrance before the house lights dim as the Proprietor of the Carnival of the Absurd.

Additional characters are portrayed by ensemble members Angie Joachim (Emma Goldman,), Erin Shaughnessy Homberg, Susan Chapin, Paul Meyer, Ellis Bell, RJ Knippel, Shawn Brown, Barry Schilmeister, and young Lazarus Bell in his stage debut.

Em Foley assembled the costumes of the assassins that span the decades. Andrew Okell and Bob Lane have designed a useful set that surprisingly transforms. WCSU grad and crew member Olivia Kirby worked on the set decoration design.

The band seated at the back of the stage and conducted by Giuseffi sounded great. I had some trouble hearing at the senior preview, but the gun shot effects were effective. The lighting and projections by Lou Okell and Milla Bell were well done.

The illustrations of the newlywed Erin Shaugnessy Homberg are exhibited in the Gallery.

“Assassins” is based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr. and contains orchestrations by Michael Starobin.

All of the shows this season speak to the American Dream. Performances of "Assassins" will be held at Brookfield Theatre located on Route 25, by the library, from Feb. 13 through March 7 on Friday and Saturday at 8 PM with matinees on Sundays at 2PM. Reserved seating tickets are $35 regular, $25 seniors or $20 students and are available at www.BrookfieldTheatre.org or at the box office. “Assassins” is performed without intermission. Please note: this production contains depictions of guns and violence as well as strong and hateful language, flashing lights and fog.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch. She was a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper.

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