Andrew Who?

In keeping with my recent tradition of going to quirky plays, I dragged Cathy to Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. In case you don't remember, Andrew Jackson was our seventh president. The play tells the story of his life in a mere 90 minutes.

The thought of a 90 minute biography of AJ might evoke images of the speed-talking fed ex pitchman (remember him?), or comedians who demonstrate that they can tell the story of War and Peace (or other epics) in 25 words or less. But in fact, the pace of Bloody Bloody was downright languorous in comparison. And yet, consider what was crammed into that 90 minutes: We learned that Andrew Jackson was orphaned at 14, tortured by the British, Governor of Florida, married to a bigamist, unhappily childless, founder of the democratic party, slave owner, Tennessee booster. Oh and president of the United States.

We gleaned all of this through a crushingly loud rock score and a script full of anachronistic swear words.

Cathy wondered why anyone would give a hoot. About Andrew Jackson, and maybe about the play either.

I must be going through a phase, because I thought it was a kick.