Monday, June 23, 2008

BIG BILL!

I came across this lovely picture.

(Go and look. I'll wait.)

Now, although the caption doesn't say anything about it, students of history will remember that President William McKinley was shot (he died a few days later) by Leon Czolgosz in 1901 at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.

Students of musical theater will, at this point in this post, have this song running through their heads:



(Sorry. I couldn't find a better recording.)

And here are the lyrics.

This song has been stuck in my head all morning. You are welcome.

5 comments:

Leely said...

There was a local production recently that had the Narrator dressed like an undertaker. I thought that was an interesting spin. (Didn't see it, just read the review in one of the free community papers. The reviewer didn't seem to know what to make of it.)

Kate said...

I could see the idea behind that--but given that the whole point of the character is to embody all of the corny, down-homeyness of classic Americana, I am not sure it actually works. How do you play "Another National Anthem" then?

Matter-Eater Lad saw an off-broadway production with Neil Patrick Harris as the Balladeer and the mother from Freaks and Geeks as Sarah Jane Moore. I am still jealous.

Leely said...

I know the lyrics to ANA, but I can't really picture the scene.

Though given how bemused the reviewer was, it's possible that he was mistaken. More Mark Twain and less Huck Finn in the costuming, perhaps.

Kate said...

The big thing about that song is that the Assassins throw Americana out when they choose what they choose, which of course is just an American as the corny official American Tradition. I bet you are right, though, about the costuming. If they were trying for more of an authority figure, more of a foil for Booth . . . .

College Glassblower said...

sadly, this is the only play at cap and bells i failed to see, though apparently it was brilliantly pulled off...