Image: supplied
Benjamin Barker aka Sweeney Todd powerfully explodes onto stage in a tremendous production at New Theatre.
It is a tale of lost love, corruption, murder and revenge in nineteenth century London accompanied by Sondheim’s spiky yet lyrical score. Musical director Liam Kemp does wonders condensing the difficult score to an absolute minimum, with just himself, a violinist and a double bassist as orchestra for the show.
The set design is sparse and simple with a couple of stairs and platforms that can split, join, separate, and revolve with eerily atmospheric lighting by Liam O’Keefe.
This magnificent production has excellent ensemble work with intense vocals, reminiscent of Shakespeare’s use of black humour to release the build up of tension.
The cast is impressive, with standouts including Benjamin Cotta as Sweeney Todd. Tall, bald and bearded, Cotta posses a powerful menace and a drive for revenge that propels the story.
His partner in crime Mrs Lovett is delightfully played by Lucy Miller with a glamorous transformation in act two. We see ‘the worst pies in London’ mysteriously become enormously popular, with the audience learning the terrible secrets along on the way. Her character development is excellently performed and lead to her terrible, grisly, fiery end.
Other performance highlights include the poor trapped Johanna delightfully played by Jaimie Leigh Johnson and the mad beggar woman was given a chilling, intense performance by Courtney Glass. Judge Turpin was excellently played by the handsome Byron Watson, who perhaps looked wrong for the part, but compensated with a sensational baritone voice.
Anthony Hope, a sailor and Johanna’s suitor, was terrifically played by Josh Anderson. Tobias Ragg, a boy played by a young woman was given a rousing, poignant and touching performance by Aimee Timmins.
To conclude, raise your gleaming razor high Sweeney, this magnificent product was a triumph.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
New Theatre
Music and lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Libretto: Hugh Wheeler
Director: Giles Gartrell-Mills
Musical Director: Liam Kemp
Choreographer: Trent Kidd
Costume design/set construction: Brodie Simpson
Lighting design: Liam O’Keefe
18 November – 20 December 2014
