ASSASSINS- Ballad of Guiteau (Scene #11)

[foreversinging91]

You all did a great job with this musical. I'm doing this show next month and you both remind me of our Moore and Guiteau; I've never laughed so hard. Besides the obvious comical moments, this how does have a very sad underside. All of these assasins wanted to make a point and be heard but they felt that the only way people would listen is if they killed someone. I don't condone what they did, but I do feel slightly sorry for them.

[Khemrikhara]

It's such a large stage for just three people doing relatively little...

Also, though Guitau was absolutely brilliant, it's not how I'd think of him... he's more schizophrenic in my mind. =P

Balladeer was too boring, Proprieter is too... cabaret. Not that he's even in this number.

Don't get me wrong, I thought this was great, awesome singing for an amatuer production, actually! I've just been thinking about this show and how to stage it a lot recently, so there's things I would do differently.

[thetruedelicous]

I must disagree with aalleexxbb, the general "silliness" of his performance is a choice. He balences it well with the seriousness he pulls of during the ends of his verses, which add to the "he is crazy" feel, which I enjoy emensly more then people who take the whole thing seriously and miss the overall type of craziness that can be protraid with it.

[aalleexxbb]

Until 7:13 Guiteau just acts silly, not crazy. Playing for laughs and not for the shock of "Wow. Is he serious?" The staging didn't do anything for me. It was OK.. (Too hard to compare to the PERFECT '05 revival.

[funwiththefunk]

the proprieter is annoying ._.

[BoomChickie]

@funwiththefunk Luckily that's the balladeer.

[jeanvljn24601]

The guy who played Guiteau played is so perfect! to pull off funny but to still sense his "craziness" its spectacular!

[Webster5]

Not bad at all. I understand it all, but disagree with a lot of it. I understand the Balladeer=America thing, which you have clearly represented in more of a Yuppie was, but it's just a little off-putting ti the mood and style of the play. In the way you have the Balladeer and the Proprietor, you have the interplay of Patriotism vs. Nationalism, which just isn't present at all.

Also, WAY too much choreography for Guiteau.

[twinklemoviestar]

its fun to see all the different versions of this scene

[EvilSpoofAuthor]

I love this preformance! He is PREFECT for the role! It's that whole "insane" appearence. So few of us can pull it off. I've never acted but I know insane when I see it. It's a kinship thing.^_~

[Bradtrupp]

Seth was 21 when we did this. And yes, Seth was amazing as Lockstock. And everything else too.

-The Prez of Seth Tucker's fan club

[shadmo328]

I saw Seth Tucker (Guiteau) play Officer Lockstock in a production of Urinetown. It was amazing. Now i can't see any other Lockstock's without thinking they're doing it wrong.

[anarchistcollins]

wow how old is he looks young

[verynicedirector]

guiteau kicks ass

there it is

[MistInYourLungs]

Guiteau and the Balladeer were both impressive. This is really good.

[HighbulpIII]

really hard to listen to due to the guffawing patrons in the background.

[Stantzs]

im pretty sure this is a school thing

[smeresgerhovenhowers]

This is one of the best versions of "The Ballad of Guiteau" that I have seen. The characters clash well together. I loved the balladeer, such a different interpretation. The choreagraphy was wonderful! This by far, is my favorite!

[AnIngeniousParadox]

This is really superb. I've watched this so many times I've nearly memorized it all. Perfection on all fronts, honestly--and this is completely objective.

[CharlieGuiteau]

There are only two words that are needed to sum up this video: Epic Win.

[MikeTooleK9S]

i dont know why so many people dont like this balladeer i think he kicks ass. i like how he plays it flamboyant it compliments the naivete that the balladeer embodies.

[JigsawDiva]

Also sets up a distinction between the balladeer and LHO.. imho

[kitnkabootle]

I thought this was absolutely wonderful. Seth made a wonderful Guiteau! He was funny and yet touchingly sad when it needed to be. It was fabulous! From reading about Guiteau in history books he seemed very much like this. Great job! The balladeer was also fabulous! If I hear the word 'pitchy' one more time I'll scream. Ugghh... anyways - he was great and his voice was so pleasant and nice to listen to. Thanks for this wonderfulness!

[MikeTooleK9S]

they learned music criticism from american idol.

[BoomChickie]

That was fantastic. The Balladeer was a bit pitchy in some places but otherwise was dandy, I absolutely ADORED Guiteau. He was so fantastic, though the only critism was that the whole fear of being hung wasn't quite strong enough, that you didn't really believe that that was what was going to happen.

I dunno if that makes sense. But otherwise I absolutely adored the voices.

[plopahem]

ARGH! Why didnt you do two shots... :), Great apart from that, really like this guys interpreation of Guiteau.

[Oziad]

Give me a living body and I will kill it for this role!

I was listening to this track on the New Broadway Cast recording and this guy PERFECTLY brings the maniac I saw in my mind to the stage. WONDERFUL

[SweetHartley]

He is an EXCELLENT Guiteau! That last bit where he's choked with emotion...ah! So good!

[nightcrawler42]

good but what is up with that facial hair.

[bluebettle]

Don't bash the 'stache!

[mcgregorp]

hes not bad...sound is kinda bad...i agre about the balladeer but i think it kind of works!

[lightupmyroom]

God he's brilliant as Guiteau.

[CrazyBee103]

Yeah. I have to agree. This proprietor is terrible compared to Kudisch and some others I've seen, but Guiteau and Moore are amazing. But the Balladeer has a LOT of pitch trouble and is REALLY flamboyant.

[CapnEJay]

I dunno, I really didn't care tfor the revival interpretation, and this follows pretty close. All in all though great job! I just wish every character with the spot on them wasn't 'ghost booth' or 'ghost guiteau' if you know what i mean. The spot def. needed to be diffused, quite annoying especially in this scene, where it appears like the Joker is singing & dancing, it's so bright. Good singing!

[bluebettle]

It just now occured to me how similar the "look on the bright side" chorus is to "Comedy Tonight" from something funny happened on the way to the fourm

[MitchConnor83]

I just bought the soundtrack from the Broadway revival, and that was exactly what I thought.

[pannicatack]

Say, they are similar...

[pannicatack]

First time I've seen/heard that scene. Excellent first impression. That guy's got alot of talent. He's funny, and he has a great voice.

[vastakxt]

The Proprietor is not a one dimensional character. He is not wholly evil. I'm sorry, but I am thoroughly tired of people praising Toby for providing such a "refreshing" insight into said character.

He's a good actor, but in this role he is completely one dimensional.

[EmjayJackman]

1. Charlie just breaks my heart when he sings the second "Glory hallelujah", and when he gasps after "I will be remembered!" This guy is so good.

2. The Proprietor is pure evil! I love him! Especially when he starts swinging the noose. Creepy as heck!

[vfdj42]

Not bad. I don't know if I'd consider this guy as good as O'Hare, as some people here think. O'Hare's performance was more subtle, and though Guiteau was a flamboyant person, I'm not exactly sure to what extent.

[crescentsorrow]

Ah, I see. I was confused, as "Seth" fired in the Propreitor's direction. My bad.

I love how the Propreitor sings the last note with the Balladeer. It's just such a delicious, beautiful contrast. It's so ironic, and it says so much--he's the enabler, and he causes everybody's deaths.

The Balladeer could be a bit better though. He's too smug.

[taraplz]

I love how he takes his time on the opening verses, especially the second "Glory hallelujah". No one knows how to write a nervous breakdown like Sondheim. A very good mix of entertainment and pathos.

[bassman462]

I didn't get that far, because i simply quit watching. and I have to agree at that point i did enjoy the performance. but with assassins, you're portraying real people, it's not as if it's guys and dolls were you can bend any character any which way. through the videos i watched he always made him seem, I don't know wrong. Maybe part of it was build, obviously not a type cast.

[GettysburgBattle]

I tend to agree.

Guiteau, both as Sondheim wrote him and history molded him was a loud, bombastic character, but a human being none-the-less. I'd hazard that this "Seth" character who's playing him didn't inform himself one iota on who Guiteau actually was and what he wrote in his letters following the assasination.

[crescentsorrow]

The Propetrior is fantastic. Imposing stage prescence, great harmony at the end. His being Garfield was awkward, though.

Guiteau was the best. The best I've ever seen. A whole hell better than the 2004 schmuck. Beautiful singing voice; comedic sense that's second to none; great dancing; and FANTABULOUS acting/conveying of expression. The last moment--as he's about to hang--couldn't have been done better.

Major props.

[Monologue]

You know... I think I enjoyed this guy more than the one who played Guiteau in the 2004 revival version.

[bassman462]

It seems like in all these videos he's gone for the easy/cheap laugh.

[taraplz]

You can really sense some panic and regret in his performace. I love Denis O'Hare, but this guy really really nails it.

[Bradtrupp]

Yes... he.... is...

[tylerburch13]

chipper little fellow, aint he?