Let It Bleed

  Over the last three years, Benjamin Walker has appeared on Broadway, done stand-up, become engaged to Mamie Gummer and always found time for a little American history as the titular character in the rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, written by Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman. Now receiving a full staging at The Public (where it appeared last spring in concert form), Bloody Bloody breaks down the story of Jackson’s rise from log cabin to the White House, and his eventual fall from grace. And like any politician worth his salt,Walker has a remarkable ability to stay on message, which he proved during our recent phone conversation.  

New York Press: When I saw the show, one of the first things you said was that you’re wearing really tight pants. Why are your pants so tight?

Benjamin Walker: Oh man, that’s a good question.Well, because Jackson was a rock star. And so that’s how it translates into a costume today. Did you notice they put kneepads on them? I kept banging my legs so badly that luckily they made a few modifications to make them a little more comfortable.

I understand that your father is a history buff.

But I [still] learned a lot. Especially about the cutting [Jackson and his wife cut themselves several times during the show] and about his campaign.That’s the thing about Jackson. His life was so wild there’s always something new to learn.

I was gonna ask about the cutting!

Isn’t that wild? That was a commonplace medical procedure at the time.The idea of purging the bad blood. But Jackson was so accustomed to pain. He had actual shells in his body until the day he died that were inflicted on him during a duel. So he was no stranger to pain. A British soldier hit him on the head with a saber when he was in his early teens.

Any good Jackson stories that didn’t make it into the show?

This wasn’t in the show, and it’s OK that it’s not, but there’s this great story about how he shattered a bone in his arm and he later mailed the bones of his arm to his wife. She kept them until the day she died.

It’s so weird that the guy responsible for the Trail of Tears, who’s sometimes referred to as the “American Hitler,” is on the $20 bill.

Isn’t that quintessentially American? Some people believe he was a great president. He led the largest land-grab in the history of the country, but at the same time, some people won’t use 20s because he’s on them.

Watching the show, I was reminded of Lyndon Johnson, who also divides opinion. On the one hand, social reform. On the other, he got us into Vietnam.

Just the parallels you can draw between Jackson’s presidency and Obama’s, for example.The public outpouring that he’s received and the point where your party starts to abandon you.

I liked that the show made those parallels without hitting the audience over the head with them.

They just happened to be there.

But so many shows now will have an enormous wink-wink to drive it home. And this show refuses to.

That’s the whole point.We’re just telling a story and the audience has its freedom to draw their own parallels and have their own opinion.Without writing a prospectus, we’re just putting it out there.This is what we feel happened.

So who is your favorite president? Of them all?

Goodness gracious, I haven’t the slightest idea.

Favorite first lady?

I’m excited to see what Michelle’s going to do. It’s so fascinating that I refer to her by her first name, because we all feel like we know her.That’s how well she presents herself.

I’ve always been obsessed by Dolley Madison. She grew up a Quaker but she quit because she liked pretty dresses too much. Atta girl!

> [Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson]

Through April 25, [The Public Theater], 425 Lafayette St. (betw. Astor Pl. & E. 4th St.), 212-260-2400; $60.