Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Reviewed by Natalie Shaw
As I sit here writing this, I will tell you that I am still riding the high of the perfection that is this show! When I say that it is perfect, I mean it, with all my heart-- it is PERFECT! All the elements of Sweeney Todd at Upright Theatre Company have come together in the most magnificent ways.
Sweeny Todd tells the story of a barber who was banished from his family in London to Australia. Upon his banishment, Judge Turpin sexual assaults Todd's wife Lucy and imprisons her, while Todd's infant daughter, Joanna is kidnapped by Turpin and used for his own personal pleasure. Turpin intends to marry his ward as soon as she comes of age. Todd (formerly known as "Benjamin Barker.") returns to London several years later under his new alias and rents his former flat from Mrs. Lovett, who owns the pie shop downstairs from the flat. Todd intends to kill Judge Turpin for his evil-doings, and anyone who might stand in his way of getting to the Judge. As the bodies start to stack up, Mrs. Lovett begins to ponder what to do with all the carcasses under their feet. It dawns on her that using them as filling for her meat pies will increase her business profits and set her and Todd up for a lovely, romantic life together.
The interpretation of the story-line is wonderfully crafted by an ensemble of actors who are among the best-of-the-best talent in DFW. And I say boldly and profoundly-this cast lineup is off the charts! Actors who have held strong, principle roles on stages around the metro area have joined together, building a rock solid cast of principle, supporting, and ensemble roles in this production, who nail every component of the production, as well as the finishing touches. Rocky Massey brings us an incredibly fleshed-out and complex demon barber, Sweeney Todd who has embraced his softer side, thus giving us cause to empathize with the character. Brandy Raper's Mrs. Lovett is charming, hopeful and full of good humor, while simultaneously manipulative, deceptive, and likewise possessed by evil, making her the perfect match for Massey's Mr. Todd. Laura Lester's Beggar Woman is delightfully disturbed and deliciously disturb-ING in her character's quest to find the truth, while also being antagonized by her demons and haunted by her past. Sascha Connor's Judge Turpin and Joshua Hawkins' The Beadle are a perfectly-matched villainous pair. Lovers Johanna (Jacy Schoening) and Anthony (Andrew Cave) are delicate and delightful, a beautiful stark contrast to our Sweeney and Lovett. Devon Watkins' Adolfo Pirelli is a comedic pleasure!
Vocally, this cast is intensely captivating and pitch-perfect, going toe-to-toe with professional singers on Broadway. This is the best musical direction I have yet to witness from Noel Clark and I can't wait to hear more! The quaint space allows for these immaculate voices to encircle you as an audience, surrounding you with the riveting sounds that are, quite literally, two feet away from your person. The choreographed segments by Whitney Morris and movement directed by Natalie Burkhart onstage and throughout the theatrical space is beautifully organized, sometimes in a chaotic format that is indicative of evil spirits that may haunt us in our nightmares.
Set design by Katie Cooley, sound design by Natalie Burkhart and Mary Ridenour and lighting design by Branson White, set a terrifying tone that pulls us into, what feels like, a fever dream come to life. The audience is so engulfed in the story, we become part of the story. Intense fog, red lighting, high screeching sounds and clawing hands on spotlit windows place us in a horrific 19th Century London.
Sweeney Todd is nightmarish-ly gorgeous, spine-tingly chilling and utterly un-matchable! It. Just. Doesn't. Get. Better. Than. This! And, if you think I'm guilty of hyperbole, I invite you to prove me wrong. See it for yourself, but you better hurry up! Tickets are selling out fast! uprighttheatre.org.
Running Time: 2.5 hours with a 20 minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Noises and Visuals to Prepare For: Screeching sounds, screaming, fake blood, flashing lights, abrupt lighting changes, hands clawing at windows, loud singing with extreme high notes, gun and gunshot, fog machine.
Volume Level: Mostly comfortable, but loud at times
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