Teddy Tahu Rhodes and cast of Sweeney Todd. Photo by Jeff Busby.
The tale of Sweeney Todd, the murderous London barber and his ally Mrs Lovett, a cannibalistic pie-maker, has long fascinated storytellers.
Even before George Pitt’s early iteration of the tale was serialised as a Penny Dreadful between 1846-47, the bare bones of the story were well known, as evidenced by Charles Dickens’ reference to ‘preparers of cannibalic pastry,’ in Martin Chuzzlewit (1844). More recently, writers such as Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett have explored the tale in fiction, and it remains a staple on stage, thanks primarily to Christopher Bond’s 1973 play which fleshes out Todd’s backstory, and Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 musical adaptation of it, which is perhaps the best-known take on the story today.
Victorian Opera’s production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is the company’s third Sondheim production in as many years, following on from 2014’s Into the Woods and 2013’s Sunday in the Park with George. Vigorously directed by Stuart Maunder, who occasionally allows comedy to undercut the more emotional moments of the production to deleterious effect, it stars the powerfully voiced but painfully wooden Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Todd, and Antoinette Halloran as Mrs Lovett.
Rhodes’ casting mars what is otherwise a solid production; his lack of acting ability means that scenes that should move or thrill do neither, and without the sense of grief and fury which should drive the character, the production’s most dramatic scenes fall somewhat flat. Rhodes is also the only member of the cast not to attempt an English accent – though at least this can be rationalised by his ex-convict character having just returned from Australia.
While Rhodes’ inability to emote is problematic, his growling baritone and physical presence at least convey something of the character’s menace; thankfully, other performers bring more nuance to their roles. While all the cast are strong, Kanen Breen as The Beadle particularly impresses, mixing unctuousness and menace in an excellent performance; and as the young lovers Anthony and Johanna, Blake Bowden and Amelia Berry are charming, though slightly lacking in chemistry. The star of the show, however, is Halloran as Mrs Lovett; she is nothing short of superb, shifting effortlessly from comedy to cruelty, and finely voiced.
Credit should also go to the impressive and well-integrated Ensemble, whose skills are best displayed in the madhouse scene, in which Maunder’s directorial pace and precision are also prominent. Philip Lethlean’s lighting design is also excellent, whether subtly highlighting the set, or adding a ruddy glow to the bloodier proceedings.
The 12-piece orchestra perform deftly and richly under the baton of Phoebe Briggs, and the sound design is generally fine, with the ‘snikt’ of Todd’s razor on the strop pointedly punctuating proceedings. That said, the shriek of the factory whistle was notably – and painfully – piercing on opening night, and the sound operator missed an occasional microphone cue, causing a handful of lines to be muffled and lost; however, such problems are sure to be refined as the season progresses.
A story of obsession and revenge, as well as a pointed commentary on the ‘man devouring man’ world of capitalism, Sweeney Todd is very much a musical for our times, despite its Victorian setting – a setting brought to impressive life by Roger Kirk’s atmospheric set, a rookery-like collection of stairs and balconies, with only rare glimpses of the distant skyline visible amongst the gloom. His costumes too, are excellent.
This Victorian Opera production fails to thrill, primarily due to its leading man, but it certainly entertains.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
From an adaptation by Christopher Bond
Director: Stuart Maunder
Set and Costume Designer: Roger Kirk
Lighting Designer: Philip Lethlean
Sound Designer: Jim Atkins
Cast includes Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Antoinette Halloran, Phillip Rhodes, Kanen Breen, David Rogers-Smith, Ross Hannaford, Blake Bowden, Amelia Berry, Dimity Shepherd and Jeremy Kleeman
Musical Director: Phoebe Briggs
Orchestra Victoria
Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse
16-25 July
