Dial M for musical

Murderous intentions run riot in a tent in the town hall, and Sharu Delilkan is not talking about the singing.

Pull a trigger and change history. That's what Kyle Chuen's character, Giuseppe Zangara tries to do but fails, in Silo Theatre's next production, Assassins.

Zangara is no figment of the show's writers' imaginations. Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman plucked him straight from the pages of history. Like all the other assassins or would-be assassins in this piece, he wanted to kill a US president.

If he'd been taller and a better shot, Zangara might have succeeded in killing Franklin Delano Roosevelt but he missed, and killed Chicago's mayor, instead.

Oliver Driver directs the dark musical. Only one month separated Zangara's six random shots and his execution, now recorded as the hastiest in US legal history. At only five feet tall, the killer stood on a chair to fire at Roosevelt, most certainly ensuring he'd not make a fast getaway.

Chuen, the actor playing Zangara in this production, says he's enjoying the character's furious emotional outbreaks. "It's a great thing to be able to tap into, since Giuseppe is constantly on edge. I'm quite a low-key sort of person so getting to act out these emotions is a huge outlet for me.
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It's almost therapeutic."

Chuen, who holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts in musical theatre, says acting is just something he decided upon after high school. "I did it mainly to leave my hometown, Foxton. In retrospect, I realise I was rather naive."

Having recently relocated to Auckland for a role in the Sweeney Todd musical, Chuen is looking forward to his second local production, which also marks his Silo debut.

Working with choreographer Sandra Rasmussen has been a comfort for him, having worked with her before.

"It's amazing doing such a great role for such a great company with such an awesome line-up."

Indecent haste

In February 1933, Giuseppe Zangara, an Italian migrant bricklayer shot five people in Miami, Florida.

He was aiming for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president-elect. Instead, he hit five other people, one of them the mayor of Chicago, Anton Cermak, who died.

Zangara made his attempt on Roosevelt's life at a crowded political gathering. Rather unfortunately for him, he drew attention to himself by standing on a chair.

He had to. He was only five foot tall and could not have seen his target otherwise.

At his swiftly convened trial, Zangara claimed the savage pain from gall bladder lesions drove him to his fateful act. He made a lot of other claims in mitigation of his guilt, but all were dismissed as self-serving rants.

By March 20, 1933, 32 days after the shooting, he'd been tried, convicted and executed.

Assassins, Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, Queen St, CBD, July 24-Aug14. Tickets: ph 357 3355 or see www.buytickets.co.nz
Sharu Delilkan | 23rd July 2010

If he were alive today, Franklin Roosevelt
If he were alive today, Franklin Roosevelt's failed assassin, Giuseppe Zangara (Kyle Chuen), would surely be puzzled to be mentioned in a musical. KELLIE BLIZARD

http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/living/news/dial-m-for-musical/3917638/