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The Acorn Camarillo Acorn Moorpark Acorn Simi Valley Acorn Thousand Oaks Acorn |
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Exceptional singing sells this grisly classic
Stephen Sondheim provided the music and lyrics, with book by Hugh Wheeler. The music is complex, dense, difficult, moody and as dark as the play's subject matter. Don't expect a spirited, uplifting, fun show. Prepare to descend into the depths of man's depravity as Todd's rage against a personal injustice festers until it destroys him. A once-respected barber, Sweeney Todd (Nick Marinoff), now aged beyond his years, returns to his hometown of London after imprisonment on false charges trumped up by Judge Turpin (Robert Weibezahl), who lusted after Todd's beautiful wife, Lucy. With Todd gone, Turpin raped Lucy and raised Todd's daughter Johanna (Rachel Balich) as his ward. Todd is shattered when he learns that Lucy, now shamed, took poison. He plots his revenge against the judge with his favorite weapon—his silver barber razor. Todd reopens his shop in his former flat above a meat pie shop run by Mrs. Lovett (Elizabeth Stockton). She bakes the worst pies in the world—quality meat is hard to find cheap. Anthony (Jonathan Bluth), who befriends Todd, is infatuated with Johanna, now grown into a lovely young woman. She longs to escape her guardian, who keeps her secluded from men. When Turpin plans to marry his ward, Anthony schemes to run away with Johanna. But plans oft go astray, and both Todd and Anthony fail their objectives. Furious, Todd declares war against the entire human race and begins to systematically kill it off, one customer at a time. He slits the throats of the men in his barber chair. Mrs. Lovett processes the bodies into her pies. The clueless townsfolk declare the new meat pies delicious—but how long can the recipe be kept secret? Todd's quest for retribution is understandable, but does that excuse his actions? The play provides no easy answers, only a grim warning for those who seek vigilant justice. Director Dean Johnson has assembled a cast with exceptional singing voices. The show is mostly told with music, and the principals meet the challenge. Marinoff's Todd is haunted from his first moment on stage. His anger smolders until it burns him alive. He's also funny, as in a shaving contest with the huckster Pirelli (Francis Paul Frenandez Cabison) but cold as a tomb toward Mrs. Lovett's seduction, and controlled and deadly as he kills. Balich and Bluth are sweet together as the young lovers. Balich is especially touching as she watches a man selling caged songbirds and longs for her own freedom. Stockton is a boisterous, feisty Mrs. Lovett. Ella Bowen portrays a cheeky and memorable Tobias, the street urchin. Ashley Bracken is grotty and mysterious as the Beggar Woman who pops up at odd moments to provoke the characters. She's a reminder of the dirty underbelly of poverty prevalent in Old London. A fivepiece orchestra, directed by Charlie Cheol Kim, ably accompanies the singing. The numerous scene changes are a challenge for the small stage. The "set" is a large cube with a different location painted on each side. Actors turn the cube around for new scenes. Red lighting is used to good effect to punctuate Todd's murders. Bravo to the director for using implied violence for the murders. Some productions use fake blood and pantomimed violence, but in this case less is more. The gruesomeness is more vivid by letting the audience imagine the brutality. Due to the intense drama and adult themes, the show is not recommended for children. The show is a showcase for some magnificent singing and acting. Just don't let the despair and darkness of the show ruin your evening. Running time is three hours. The show continues on weekends through July 26 at 330 Skyway Drive, Camarillo. For tickets, call (805) 388-5716. |
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