This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 1, 2012 - Listen up, kids. New Line Theatre’s going to teach you a history lesson unlike any you learned in school.
The Gist: The satirical “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” directed by artistic director Scott Miller, lives up to its name with a stage awash with the “blood” of so-called “Indians,” Spaniards and Jackson himself. The history books want to know: Was our seventh president a great leader who doubled our country’s land mass or a mass murderer, an “American Hitler?”
Sound like a comedy? Not really. But “Bloody Bloody,” written by Alex Timbers, is laugh-out-loud hilarious. Its humor is assisted by Michael Friedman’s emo (emotional hardcore) rock score and in-your-face lyrics.
“Life sucks, and my life sucks, in particular,” sings a strutting, machismo-dripping Jackson (John Sparger of "Hair" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"), bringing to mind an “Avenue Q” song. Other anachronisms include Goth garb, desk phones and an electric wheelchair.
We witness Jackson's early years, especially the loss of his parents to cholera when he was 13. They leave him with a legacy of hatred for "Indians" (but also a soft spot for at least one of their orphaned offspring). During his military and presidential career, Jackson kills by hand and later by policy thousands of Native Americans.
Along the way, he meets the red-headed Rachel (Taylor Pietz), the love of his life, and one of four Wild West women who rock the stage in short skirts, fishnet stockings and raccoon eye paint.
A Sample:
A trio of the women seizes the spotlight, along with John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and John Calhoun, in “Corrupt Bargain,” a whip-smart musical telling of Jackson’s 1824 election. Foreshadowing the 2000, Supreme-Court assisted Bush win, they reveal what goes on behind closed doors:
John Quincy Adams says, “If we steal the election, then Jackson will surely cave.”
John Calhoun says, “You can be president if you don’t try to take away my slaves.”
Special Shout-Out To:
Ensemble member and Jackson cheerleader Chrissy Young for Attitude with a capital “A,” and Brian Claussen, whose sideways looks, smirks and expressive knee bends make for a delightfully campy Martin Van Buren.
