Assassins [Import, Cast Recording]

Having taught classes on the work of Steven Sondheim, I have long considered Assassins to be my favorite of his works - not his best work, but definitely my favorite. I have had a long and wonderful love affair with the Original Cast Recording of Assassins, and with Victor Garbor and Terrance Mann heading that incredible cast, I was apprehensive when I received my Broadway Cast Recording. In the final analysis, it is easy to say that they both have their strengths and weaknesses, but here they are:

1. The Orchestrations on this new Broadway Cast Recording are definitive. They are rich, full, and flesh out one of my favorite aspects of this work of Sondheims; the music that accompanies each Assassin is written in the style of their background and/or time period.

2. The Cast on this new recording is very good. Niel Patrick Harris, who I saw in Sweeney Todd, rises to new levels of excellence. His clarity of tone, diction, feeling, and comprehension make his recordings superior to those of Patrick Cassidy which I did not expect. For those in the fold, the Ballad of Czolgosz is worth the price of the CD alone.

I found that this Guiteau gives us far less vocal flourish and characterization than did the original; but strangely, this does not weaken the character.

The Fromme here is very good, and is "squeaky" only in name, unlike the original.

The only two characters here who are not either better or just as good as the originals are Booth and Moore. With Booth, I felt that he has a deep, rich, and beautiful voice, but he has decided that his acting should occasionally take place outside of the notes of the score. In The Ballad of Booth, he should have let the music be the source of the drama, not his characterization. With Moore... well, I hate to say this, but she ruins the Gun Song, which is a little out of groove to begin with.

Oh, and Zangara doesn't sell me at the end of "How I Saved Roosevelt"

3. The Songs - Yes, Unworthy of Your Love is great here, and the brass give it that extra something that it needs towards the end. Fromme goes slightly flat at one obvious point, but as a whole, a great recording (ESPECIALLY THE TAG WITH REAGAN). Everybody's Got the Right is just as haunting and beautiful as it has ever been. Another National Anthem and The Ballad of Guiteau are definitive recordings. There are also some magnificent tags and dialogue on this recording.

With the song Something Just Broke, which was added to Assassins later, I have always heard said was "out of place" in Assassins, and I now know why this criticism is common. It is not that the sentiment is out of place - the music is. This sounds just like Passion, not Assassins. (Passion was Sondheim's next show, which he was probably writing when he wrote Something Just Broke). This doesn't make it a bad song - actually, it's amazingly beautiful.

Overall, buy this one, love this one, and then buy the Original Cast Recording. (Or vice versa)

While the revival of "Assassins" was still running on Broadway, I was quite curious about this musical. The cast contained many performers I've enjoyed in the past (Michael Cerveris, Marc Kudisch, Denis O'Hare) but unfortunately, I was unable to see this production.

When I heard of the release of the cast recording, I immediately rushed out to purchase it. This recording is the first time I've heard the score to "Assassins" and I must say, I am pleasantly surprised.

The recording if full of pleasant surprises. While songs do have the familiar feel of other Sondheim pieces, they are accompainied by chilling orchestrations and vocal arrangements. There are surprises in the cast as well, especially Neil Patrick Harris as the Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald. Who knew he had that strong of a singing voice?

Denis O'Hare as Charles Guiteau surprised me as well. I enjoyed his Tony winning performance in "Take Me Out" but I had no idea he could sing so well. He is chilling in "The Ballad of Guiteau" and "The Gun Song".

Michael Cerveris, who portrays John Wilkes Booth, has been one of my favorite actors for sometimes now but after hearing this recording, I understand why he won a Tony this season. He is unrecognizable as Lincoln's assassin. His thick Southern accent causes chills to run up and down the listener's spine at points in the score.

Marc Kudisch, Alexander Gemingnani, and Mary Catherine Garrison are also enjoyable as the Proprietor, John Hinckley, and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, respectably. The ensemble, especially Kendra Kassebaum and Anne L. Nathan, is strong. The ensemble piece "Something Just Broke" is probably my favorite song of the score, led by an amazing Kassebaum.

My only complaint is Becky Ann Baker as Sarah Jane Moore. I found her annoying while listening to great pieces such as "The Gun Song", and "Another National Anthem".

Oh, and I must give honorable mention to comedian Mario Cantone, who is strong as Samuel Byck.

I was lucky enough to see the revival of Assassins twice before it closed on July 18th. I'd never heard the 1991 premier recording before seeing the show. I ADORED the show and counted down the days before I could buy the album.

Many of the actors in this recording stand out - Michael Cerveris deservedly won a Tony for his portrayal of Booth, Neil Patrick Harris brings humanity to Lee Harvey Oswald and melodic beauty to the Balladeer. I have to say James Barbour is my favorite with his rich baritone when singing "The Gun Song". The only two that are a bit under par are Jeffery Kuhn (Zangara) - his enunciation and emphasis really annoyed me, I couldn't even understand him in the actual show - and Becky Ann Baker, which disappointed me because she was A LOT more fluid and on pitch in the live show. (She sounds like she might be sick when they recorded this)

Many people say they prefer the original's Charles Guiteau, but I disagree. I find Denis O'Hare to be delightfully insane, still I can understand how one who hasn't seen the show might be turned off by his vocal quality on the CD. It's more his characterization that's wonderful, rather than his singing.

"Unworthy of your love" has a more pop sound here, but that makes it more fun to listen to (It's my favorite song on the CD)

Finally, the packaging makes this all the more enjoyable. (ooh glossy photos!) The songs are individual tracks (a pet-peeve I have with Original Cast Album) and are interspurced with dialogue from the show. (The Reagan comments from the Proprieter are worth the album alone!)

Anyways, this is an almost flawless recording from a powerful, witty, satirical and poignent show. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have! :)

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