I can’t think of a spookier, more ghoulish show to watch on a Halloween eve than to “attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.” Having seen the show a couple of times before and being aware of the movie version I did have some preconceptions of the show.
This company spelt out the story so clearly that even my 11 year old understood the themes. In previous productions, I’ve felt a little confused at times. Sweeney is one of Sondheim’s fiercest libretto scores – so many words – so few bars to sing them in but those lyrics are lush and some of his finest and it is an injustice not to hear them. Wonderfully, we did.
Set in London, the set suggested brickwork with flats and rostra of various sizes and shapes used as different sets: Sweeney’s shop, above Mrs Lovett’s pie shop, living quarters and bakery. The home of the Judge, the lunatic asylum, a street scene for the Pirelli shave off scene and overall, the staging worked but occasionally exits and entrances looked a little tight. Possibly, on a first night, this was just settling in issues.
The whole show relies on the score being communicated well as there are very few lines spoken between characters. The PAP cast did this really well. The lead role of Sweeney Todd was played with control and gravity by Rob Haslam. What I loved about his performance was that he never completely blew his top leaving him nowhere to go. He took us on a journey of all his emotions from bereft of his family, through to his coercion into ‘pie making’, his revenge on the wicked Beadle and Judge who had taken his daughter, down to his crazed and frenzied killing. Great singing by Haslam of a complex score plus he really looked the part with a haunted expression; although his eye was not odd!
His counterpart for the show is the opportunist Nelly Lovett - pie maker and accomplice to Todd’s terrible crimes using his victims to fill her pies and boost the economy of her failing business. Lou Steggals’ Lovett was a little too nice for me and the pie song a little laid back so didn’t show a manipulative, wheedling character who had a master plan to seduce Todd ‘who she’d always been rather fond of’ when she knew him when he was Benjamin. Her make up was not macabre or sinister enough to convey her grotesque nature. However, she turned a corner for me in the ‘My friends’ knife song when Sweeney is reunited with his blades and she revealed her amorous intentions. ‘By the Sea’ was really well sung and performed and got lots of laughs from the first night audience where she suggests to Todd they get married.
Judge Turpin and Beadle Bamford are the villains of the piece who have caused the mayhem that Sweeney inflicts when 15 years earlier, they took a fancy to Todd’s wife, Lucy. They send him to Australia to a convict colony on a trumped up charge so he can steal his wife. Lucy goes mad and he takes their baby Johanna as his own ward. Turpin, played by Chris Robinson was suitably arrogant, pompous and skin-crawling and sang with good understanding. Gav Chadwick’s quirky interpretation of Beadle Bamford was unique and showed a distinct personality which separated him from the Judge. I wasn’t sure of the wig as he reminded me of the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at times. But, I did like the unique personalisation of his role. Well done. The younger , love interests of Johanna – Helena Stanway (what a beautiful voice she has !) with clear diction and an expressive face and Anthony (Nick Ward) were well matched as Ward showed his lovely, relaxed acting style which suited this role and showed the angst of the lovers who could not be because of the Turpin’s imprisonment of Johanna. The scene where all four were on stage duetting and counterpointing was sublime.
The pretend Italian Barber cum Machiavellian blackmailer, Pirelli - Todd’s first victim – was wonderful to watch. Joseph Gallogly has an impressive stage presence and a voice to match. Amazing high notes and a high energy, hilarious performance. His young ward, Tobias played by Benji Lythe showed maturity in his acting and a lovely singing voice. His scene where he revealed to Mrs Lovett that he would look after her when he suspected him of his killings allowed us to see his ability to keep it in before exploding with his anger. He has the last lines of the show and you can see the effects of the madness then turn this innocent young mind to insanity also. Well done.
Lastly, the beggar woman was in the safe hands and vocals of Samantha Kierney. When I have seen the show before I haven’t caught much of the lyrics but I heard Samantha’s really well and what a great singer she is. When she sang ‘City on Fire’ she was like an autocue of what was happening inside the Barber’s shop and Lovett’s bakery.
The ensemble worked hard and had a good understanding of the score thanks to their excellent MD Paul Lawton. Their movements were well devised and appropriate to the piece thanks to Amy Walker’s choreography. The singers were controlled and and sang with clear, crisp diction
to a high standard and were backed by an excellent band who played sympathetically .Paul Wilson’s direction was clear and as already said, spelt out the story beautifully. Thank you for the company for a highly entertaining evening and allowing us to attend the story of Sweeney Todd.
Reviewer - Kathryn Gorton
on - 31/10/18
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