Theatergoers don't seem to want to see ''Assassins,'' and it's their loss.

Unique thought

Who but Sondheim would take ''Romeo and Juliet'' and dare to turn it into a gang war on the streets of New York? And who but Sondheim would have the audacity to explore the evils of industrialization in a musical about two murderers who slit their victims' throats and then cook them into pies?

''West Side Story'' and ''Sweeney Todd'' are two of Sondheim's most successful musicals, yet ''Assassins,'' filled with some of the most provocative ideas ever brought to the stage, can't seem to find an audience.

Perhaps political assassination is too upsetting a thought today. But the overtly political theme of ''Assassins'' does not, as some people have suggested, glorify murderers who think they can solve their problems by killing a U. S. president.

What ''Assassins'' does is look at these tortured souls as individuals and try to show them as a product of the society they live in. So again, why in a musical? Quite simply because that's what Sondheim does. He doesn't do books -- he does musicals. And ''Assassins'' is a marvelous one, deserving of its four Tony awards including Best Revival.

The shocking opening of ''Assassins'' is a carnival with a barker shouting, ''Come on and shoot a president!'' He spins a wheel that displays faces of all the victimized presidents, while a lighted sign blazes the words, ''Shoot! Win! Hit the Prez.''

In the shooting gallery that encircles the stage, paper shades unfurl to reveal recognizable silhouettes of the unfortunate victims. Eight assassins join the barker to sing ''Everybody's Got the Right,'' a paean to the American Dream that all of them bought into and sadly discovered that for them, the Dream was nothing but a dream.

Chance for explanation

Playing fast and loose with history, a kind of theatrical ''Meeting of the Minds,'' Sondheim has all the assassins meet one another across the decades and centuries, and explain themselves.

The story culminates with John Wilkes Booth bringing them together in the Texas Book Depository, where they find a despondent Lee Harvey Oswald about to shoot himself in the head. They urge him to commit an act of political murder instead, which, they claim, would give them all legitimacy and assure their place in history.

The entire cast of ''Assassins'' have, with great skill, brought their characters to life, but special mention must be made of James Barbour, whose rich bass voice is perfect for the sullen Leon Czolgosz, McKinley's murderer, and Canadian Jeffrey Kuhn, who plays Giuseppi Zangara, the crazy Italian with stomach troubles who blamed Franklin D. Roosevelt for his pains.

Mary Catherine Garrison and Becky Ann Baker are weirdly hilarious as Squeaky Fromme and Sara Jane Moore, the ditzy Manson groupie and befuddled housewife who took aim at Gerald Ford. And of course, Michael Cerveris, winner of the Tony for his role as John Wilkes Booth.

If you are able to look at the subject matter of ''Assassins'' as a fascinating history lesson with many exciting ideas -- thanks to the intelligent book by playwright John Weidman -- you will love this musical.

Go to Playbill.com for discounts and see it before it closes July 18.

ON BROADWAY

ASSASSINS

***** (Excellent)

Where: Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St., between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes, with no intermission.

With: Michael Cerveris as John Wilkes Booth; Mary Catherine Garrison as Squeaky Fromme; Becky Ann Baker as Sara Jane Moore; Denis O'Hare as Charles Guiteau; Neil Patrick Harris as Lee Harvey Oswald; James Barbour as Leon Czolgosz; Alexander Gemignani as John Hinckley; Mario Cantone as Samuel Byck; Jeffrey Kuhn as Giuseppe Zangara; John Schiappa as the Proprietor.

Book: John Weidman.
Director: Joe Mantello.
Music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim.
Sets design: Robert Brill.
Costumes: Susan Hilferty.
Lighting: Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher.

Suitability: Adults, clients, teens older than 16.
Accessibility: Orchestra and restrooms are accessible.
Performances: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m.; matinees, Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m.
Tickets: $36.25 to $91.25; call Roundabout at 1-212-719-1300.

GETTING THERE

ASSASSINS

Theater: Studio 54, the famed disco, is set up with tables and chairs in front of the stage, and padded benches in back. The chairs, however, are most uncomfortable -- the benches and balcony seats are easier on your bottoms.

Food: Bello (1-212-246-6773) at 863 Ninth Ave. at W. 56th St. is an old Italian restaurant with good food, large portions, linen tablecloths and the piece de resistance, free parking. Halcyon (1-212-468-8888) in the Rihga Royal Hotel at 151 W. 54th St. between Sixth and Seventh avenues, is a real treat.

It serves fine food with outstanding service in a formal setting and offers a bargain $39 prix fixe pre-theater dinner.

Parking: There is parking on West 54th Street between Seventh Avenue and Broadway, and on the corner of Eighth Avenue, next to Studio 54.

Subway: A or E to 50th Street, 1 or 9 to 51st Street.

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