Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

I saw the Beck Center for the Arts' production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson tonight.  It's an amazing historical punk rock musical detailing the life and presidency of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States.

Now, you might think to yourself, "How the heck do you put punk rock and a Victorian era presidential story together in a musical?"  The answer: a large dose of anachronism.  Jackson's rise to the presidency is portrayed as a celebrity's ascent to stardom.  We see Jackson's orphaning as a young child, driving him to become a ruthless military leader, eventual President of the United States, and originator of the Democratic Party.  You have to see it to believe it.

The production makes it work.  I love the period costumes mixed with modern day punk clothing.  The language is mostly modern day English, with a heavy peppering of current day swear words.  Also, Jackson appears to be a blood fetishist who has a penchant for cutting himself when distressed.  However, the show emphasizes that it's just a metaphor.  Aside from translating the events into a vernacular type of situation, the play is historically accurate.  Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is funny, dramatic, and it seriously rocks.