Jackie!!! is a new musical, telling the story of Jacqueline Kennedy, one of America’s most fondly regarded First Ladies.
The photographs of Jackie in a blood-stained pink wool suit remain some of the most enduring visual images from the immediate aftermath of her husband’s assassination. It’s a reproduction of that suit in which we first meet Jackie in this musical that is intended to tell us about her life.
The creative team behind the musical have stated that their aim is to show aspects of Jackie’s life that were previously unknown, and that the musical therefore has a dark tone.
Recent dramatisations, such as the Kennedy’s appearance in an early season of Netflix behemoth The Crown, have pulled no punches in contrasting the Kennedys with the Windsors.
This means that much of the ‘hidden history’ of Jackie has already been revealed, and some of it relatively recently. The only new thing this production is trying to do which is new, is to set the story to music.
The music is on a pre-recorded track, and is quite loud. It’s probably too loud, both for the audience, and the cast, who struggle to make themselves heard. Even though they’ve all got microphones.
As you might expect, there’s a lot of focus on the Kennedy family. But the decision has been taken to present both JFK, and his brother Bobby as more than a little stupid, which seems disingenuous.
Joseph Kennedy, their father, is shown as the all-controlling patriarch he’s known to have been. He manipulates and controls his entire family, and attempts to extend this control to Jackie once she’s engaged to JFK.
In amongst the story, which focuses as much on the men in Jackie’s life, as it does on Jackie herself, there is some interesting commentary attempting to make itself known. There seems to be an allusion being cast to the current occupiers of the White House, and their seeming ambitions regarding statehood.
Jackie!!! has some funny lines, but they are telegraphed far too directly. As if the writers are afraid to allow the jokes to land by themselves.
There is also something of a franticness to some of the movement in the songs. The performance space at the Gilded Balloon is small. And with the set elements in place, the movement does little to enhance the storytelling.
It’s possible that this is all supposed to be broadly satirical. That we’re supposed to understand that everything in Jackie’s life was about the men, rather than her. If so, that’s disappointing.
Young Jackie seems like a very interesting woman. Even if the story does seem to suggest that people wanted to stop her from airing her opinions. And if this is supposed to be satire, that isn’t clear from the construction of the show.
The cast are to be commended. They’re trying their best against the overwhelming volume of the music track, and four prop doors that at times seem to have a life of their own.
Nancy Edwards as Jackie is giving a good performance as a woman who only realises too late what she’s got herself into in agreeing to marry JFK. The ensemble, who all play multiple-roles are giving it everything they’ve got.
This is an interesting idea, with strong performances. The show itself however feels like it needs further development, and a greater sense of what it is trying to say, and how it wants to say that.
Jackie!!! continues at 18:30 in the Big Yin at the Gilded Balloon Patter House, daily, until August 25 (not 11).
Featured Image courtesy of Chloe Nelkin Consulting
