Belated Thoughts on a Bloody Wild Show

Bloody bloody tight jeans.

Thanks to the magic of employee discounts, Dad and I snagged two seats to Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson on Broadway earlier this month. I had high hopes for BBAJ, having heard comparisons to groundbreaking rock musicals like RENT (seen it), Spring Awakening (seen it) and American Idiot (hope to see it). Bloody Bloody met, but did not exceed, those expectations.

Star Benjamin Walker as Andrew Jackson is fantastic. The angst-ridden Old Hickory struts and sways aacross the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in an electric bravado for 95 uninterrupted minutes (no intermission, folks). Walker is a master frontman, having played the part since the show's workshop days in 2007. Portraying a 19th century-era president as a rock star is no easy task, but he commands our attention and wholeheartedly earns it. On the downside, it's difficult to pay attention when Walker isn't onstage.

The music is strong overall: catchy, clever, pulse-pounding. "I'm Not That Guy"/"I'm So That Guy" and "Rock Star" are high points. The largely loud and whiny emo-rock score-- not my favorite musical preference-- is redeemed by witty lyrics and Walker's vocal talents. I've found that the more I listen to this soundtrack, the more I like it.

Presidential curtain call

Unfortunately, the plot lacks cohesion and fluidity. For reasons unknown, the early events of Jackson's life are told by a scooter-bound, sexually uninhibited elderly woman. She encounters a grim fate only to be resurrected later on in the show, although we didn't really miss her in the first place. It's an odd style of narration that gets old (no pun intended).

The balance is also off between the energy and uproar that define the first two-thirds or so of BBAJ and the somber territory it attempts to cross over into. It's difficult for an audience to take themes like death and betrayal seriously after having laughed at them just minutes prior. Dad and I heard several spectators cracking up during a certain scene that wasn't meant to be funny. This satire, much like a screechy emo kid, doesn't entirely know itself.

The show is, however, a lot of fun, with as much thanks to the lighting and set design as to Ben Walker and co. Beer bottles litter the sides of the stage; a stuffed horse hangs from the ceiling; a colorful chorus of lights and props populate the theater.

In spite of the high energy and cheeky pop culture references, this show never found a steady audience like its predecessors did. For me, it all boils down to resonance. I left RENT and Spring Awakening feeling attached to and moved by similarly brooding leading male characters like Roger Davis and Melchior Gabor, but Andrew Jackson? Not so much. By no means is this the fault of Walker-- it's the show's inconsistent script and lack of character development.

It's only around for a few more days (closing date is January 2!), but Bloody is definitely worth a view. A cult hit in its more intimate off-Broadway theater, the cast and crew should be proud to have taken this production as far as it could go. Take a bow, Mr. Jackson.




Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson: on the web and Twitter
Also, check out 1 On The Town for my fellow showgoer's take on our 7th President.