FROM THE DAILY TAR HEEL

Paupers’ production slays audience

Like a forbidden episode of Schoolhouse Rock, Pauper Players’ production of the Stephen Sondheim musical “Assassins” serves up a delightfully sadistic history of America’s most infamous men and women.

Directed by junior Lauren Northup, the musical comically connects the dots in the minds and motives of nine Americans from different time periods who tried — some with more luck than others — to assassinate presidents.

Historical reality blurs with dramatic hearsay as the assassins watch and interact with one another.

After John Wilkes Booth, played by senior Jon Todd, assassinates President Lincoln, he goes on to influence other future men and women to follow in his footsteps, offering them a chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Todd, who looks eerily like Booth, delivers the punch lines as well as the serious ones, with energy and urgency.

The musical takes a serious subject and makes it funny, capitalizing on the mental states of the assassins and distorting anthems like “Hail to the Chief.”

Hilarious monologues by Samuel Byck, played by sophomore Brett Yates, and the comic interaction between Sara Jane Moore and Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, played by alumna Jane McLelland and sophomore Jamie Gaul, respectively, add spice to the mix.

Much of the musical’s comic wit comes from Northup’s attention to detail.

Audience members who know their history will laugh at the clumsiness of Gerald Ford and the abundant Charles Manson jokes.

Swain Hall technical director Rob Hamilton’s set adds to the disrespectful revelry of the musical, as the characters dance on the bloody seal of the United States and John Hinkley shoots a taunting picture of Ronald Reagan.

But “Assassins” is not without its somber moments, despite the characters’ mental states or kooky quirks.

In a scene that takes place on the day of John F. Kennedy’s death, the assassins of the past and future gather to convince Lee Harvey Oswald (junior Jason Tucker) to kill the president.

A new conspiracy theory, perhaps? It’s about as convincing as the grassy knoll.

Uprooted from its normal stage in Playmakers Theatre, the group shines with its production in the smaller Studio II in Swain Hall.

The tiny space gives it a truly intimate feel. Seated close to the stage, the viewer can take in every nuance.

And with the orchestra at the back of the audience, the music also benefits from the venue change.

Whereas the acoustics in Playmakers Theatre often produce a muffled jumble of lyrics and music, the mix of popular tunes and originals in the show come through loud and clear in Swain Hall.

“Assassins” is revisionist history at its very best.