Shooting Republicans will not solve your problems!
The new play “Killing Republicans: A Rock Opera,” takes aim at the history of Republican presidents who have been felled by gun-wielding maniacs. The writer of the musical — which will debut, fittingly enough, at the Shooting Gallery Arts Annex in Coney Island on April 22 — says his show was inspired by history, and not by the current animosity in the Grand Old Party.
“Unfortunately history is repeating an ugly cycle. The Republican coalition has fractured, and a new coalition has yet to emerge,” said Dick Zigun, Coney Island’s unofficial mayor. “Good for promoting my play, but very bad for the country.”
The show takes place on a transatlantic flight, where three first-class passengers discuss successful and attempted assassinations of Republican politicians, including Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, and William McKinley. One of the high-flyers is actress Jodie Foster, portrayed by Juliet Schaefer. Reagan’s would-be assassin targeted the president hoping to impress Foster, and the character discusses the event with oil magnate “Billy Bob from Biloxi” (Nikos Brisco) and pop star Goodness Gracious (played by Zigun’s wife Princess Pat White). The boozed-up first classers soon break into song — accompanied by an electric guitarist and some prerecorded tracks — and try to figure out why people keeping stuffing the bullet box for Republicans.
The rock opera has no definite conclusions, said Zigun, but the passengers think it may be related to the party’s shift to a more conservative position.
“They’re drinking, using telephones, researching Republicans who got shot, and wondering why the liberal party turned conservative,” Zigun said. “The ultimate reason not to kill Republicans is that violence doesn’t make a difference. The parties flip ideologies over decades so killing might produce different results than the killer intended.”
Zigun wrote all of the lyrics, working with composer Christian Amigo to create songs in an eclectic set of styles, including punk, heavy metal, and Johnny Cash-esque country tunes.
“If ‘Hamilton’ can do history as a musical, we can do ‘Killing Republicans’ as a punk rock show,” Zigun said.
The sideshow impresario is excited for his show’s debut, and hopes the audience walks away with at least one message in mind when it comes to Republicans, he said.
“You don’t have to marry one,” he said. “But you really shouldn’t kill them.”
As for Zigun’s vote, he said: “I’m a crackpot independent and I’m voting for Bernie! Amusement park socialism!”
“Killing Republicans: A Rock Opera” at Coney Island USA (1214 Surf Ave. between Stillwell Avenue and W. 12th Street in Coney Island, www.coney
