Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This classic Sondheim, a musical thriller, tells the dark tale of Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Owen Berry first began working on this in 2020 and finally brought it to the Wolsey stage two years later. He said he wanted to give it a fresh new feel and so has set this version in the 1930’s instead on the 19th century. Following on from their award winning production of the Adams Family, the same production team of Sally Broatch, Owen Berry & Luke Berry have once again joined forces.

Sondheim’s music and lyrics in this production are especially difficult and complex and it takes an experienced Society to stage a production such as this. IODS Theatre Co handled it well in the very capable hands of the MD Mike Wren. He certainly brought out the best in the cast with the excellent backing of the ten piece band.  

Sweeney Todd is played by Tom Mayhew who captures admirably this disturbed and troubled man who is intent on revenge after being separated from his family and transported to Australia.  Rachel Buckingham’s performance of Mrs Lovett was particularly good and she excelled in her role of the infamous pie maker.  The love interest in the two younger leads of Anthony and Johanna, Dermot Gillespie Gardiner and Cerys Wilkin, worked very well together with some beautiful singing. There were some excellent performances from all of the cast, too numerous to mention individually, with the occasional  welcome humorous touches in what was a very dark production. The ensemble were very well drilled with sharp, precise choreography. 

The set worked well, although from where we were sitting it was difficult to see what, if anything, was going on in the room above the Barbers shop. We did however notice a lone seagull protruding! The barber’s chair worked very well in the disposal of Todd’s victims and then the imaginative way their bodies were transported down to the basement on a conveyor belt system was very chilling!!  Stage mechanical innovation at its very best!  I appreciate that the dark lighting was needed to portray the atmosphere, however,  in my opinion,  the first half was slightly too dark. A shame as you could not see the expressions on the faces of the cast. In the second half the set did brighten slightly, overcoming this problem, as business in the pie shop improved and the customers became more prosperous.

This was a large cast for the size of the acting area who all worked well together. Pace was maintained as the cast efficiently moved the set while the action continued around them. Costumes for the 1930’s setting all looked good. Unfortunately sound levels were in some cases patchy making the lyrics in the songs difficult to understand, but this was first night and I’m sure any slight hic-ups will have been picked up on remaining performances.

Well done to Sally and all her production team, crew and cast for a thrilling evening playing to a very appreciative audience. It was unfortunate that nobody was available to meet Tessa Davies, Regional Councilor, at the end of the production but understandable in the circumstances.

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