Sweeney Todd

This show is undoubtedly a gory story of festering revenge, greed and perhaps a poignancy of loss with just a touch of lust unrequited. Now to capture all three is quite a feat and indeed here we had a Sweeney Todd (Tom Guttridge) played with awesome menace and a maturity of characterisation and vocal dexterity way beyond his surprisingly only 21years. We believed in his single minded desire for revenge and ability to make the most of his opportunities at any cost. He was ‘assisted’ by the hapless Tobias Ragg (Tom Holt) who showed excellent simple mindedness and just the right amount of perception as he began to suspect that all was not as it should be! We also developed a somewhat skewed admiration even liking for the scheming Mrs Lovett (Debbie Lambert), her propensity to turn adversity to her advantage, as she colludes with Sweeney to ‘enhance her business’, was portrayed to full extent, as were her designs to entrap him into a relationship, his rejection of which showed the strength of his resolve to reek revenge on Judge Turpin (Martin Clarke) to the exclusion of all else! The learned Judge was well portrayed and his somewhat shocking abuse of power over his ward was graphically displayed during his self flagellation scene during the rendition of the song Joanna. That same song was beautifully interpreted by Anthony Hope (Stephen Brown) who as an ordinary seaman and suitor to Johanna Barker (Daisy Tyrell Kent) showed both tenacity and passion as this pair portrayed their young love denied, and shared a moving reprise of the song at the opening of Act2 with Todd and the Beggar Woman (Suzie Kingston). The Beggar Woman was suitably afflicted and desperate in her increasing despair. Perhaps we could have had a touch more hint of recognition for her eventual revelation as Todd’s wife who he clearly did not recognise until too late. This twist in the tale is always a shocking moment but I felt that more pathos was available for this scenario as it unfolded. Adding to this talented cast we had Beadle Bamford( Bob Sharman) with a strong law enforcement demeanour and Adolfo Pirelli (Ian Cook) as the tonsorial opponent to Sweeney Todd resplendent with Italian accent and moustache to match ! Perhaps the ‘challenge scene’ could have had a bigger build up to the actual competition? The Bedlam asylum scene was graphically displayed and gave the well drilled Company the opportunity to let their hair down, an opportunity they took with exuberant relish! This Company provided full and stylish support throughout as each musical number stretched the abilities of all soloists and group singing…Sondheims music must have been a real challenge, and credit must be given to MD (John Gibbs) for wringing such strong vocal performances from the whole cast !

The set was well conceived and the ‘body disposal’ aspect adequately dealt with reasonably convincingly combined with dramatic red lighting and Hitchcock style electronic string screeching but perhaps a little more blood staining was to be expected? Costumes were all excellent and of the era. The musical accompaniment from the nine piece band nicely concealed on stage was impeccable and they must be congratulated on their balanced interpretation of  Sondheims complex musical score! (MD John Gibbs again!). It is hard to believe that this same composer is also largely responsible for ‘West Side Story’.

Overall a well constructed production with much to admire and enjoy. We look forward to some lighter relief from ‘The Pajama Game’ in October.

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