Ray Rackham is the director of Assassins. Before tonight's performance, Ray talks about the plot of Assassins and comments on why he thinks this musical is such a popular musical.
Perhaps one of legendary American lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s lesser known stage musicals in contrast to the likes of 'Sweeney Todd' or 'Gypsy'; ‘Assassins’ is a musical exploration of America and it’s society from the level of citizen up to the American presidency. Its story goes to seek out what it truly means to be a part of America and be one of its citizens. Spanning different time eras of American history, it takes a closer look at the men and women who have tried to assassinate American presidents be it the likes of Abraham Lincoln or Ronald Reagan. With each era of American history, the music of ‘Assassins’ mirrors this period of time and reflects what it truly meant to be a part of these definitive moments that shaped America. Over twenty years ago when this groundbreaking piece of musical theatre first hit the West End and Broadway stage, musical theatre company 2nd Company Productions brings the Sondheim classic ‘Assassins’ to the stage once again. Playing at the intimate London venue in Islington, the Pleasance Main House Theatre, the show has just begun a limited three week run and promises to be another tremendous hit for 2nd Company Productions after the great success of previous productions, ‘Just Another Love Story’ and other popular Sondheim show ‘Follies’. A unique theatre company in itself, 2nd Company Productions' ethos is the commitment to the promotion of the works of the great lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Now into its first week of the three week run, on Thursday 22nd March 2012, WinkBall video reporters Alex and Zoe were down at the Pleasance Theatre to speak to theatre fans that had come down to see this exciting new production of ‘Assassins’.