A real killer play

 There’s been grumbling about the timing of Company One’s staging of “Assassins,” Stephen Sondheim’s creepy musical about people who have shot presidents.

Some argue that given the current political climate and the upcoming election, the show might be seen as a glorification of the actions of these world-changing killers.

The likelihood of anyone taking a shot at a president after seeing Company One’s impressive production is about as great as somebody painting themselves blue after seeing “Blue Man Group.” It’s a musical; a really strange, weird, wonderful musical that attempts to find a reason behind these murderous efforts.

Director Shawn LeCount has assembled a stellar ensemble to bring everyone from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley Jr. to the stage for a brief yet intense look at the inner-workings of the minds of assassins.

Elizabeth Rimar (Sara Jane Moore) and McCaela Donovan (Squeaky Fromme) mine every bit of humor from their characters’ failed attempt to assassinate President Ford, and Nathaniel Shea is so good as John Hinckley even Jodie Foster would be impressed. Not only does he capture the frightening insanity of Reagan’s would-be assassin, he also turns in the finest musical performance, “Unworthy of Your Love,” which, of course, is a  duet with Donovan about their undying love for Foster and Manson.

‘Assassins’
Through August 9
BCA Plaza Theatre
MBTA: Orange Line to Back Bay
$15-$38, 617-933-8600
www.bostontheatrescene.com