"Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd,
His skin was pale and his eye was odd.
He shaved the faces of gentlemen,
who never thereafter were heard of again.
He trod a path that few have trod,
Did Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street."
The Sydney Opera House is hosting the tale of Sweeney Todd with a new production of the Stephen Sondheim classic. Directing this production is Australian Theatre and Opera Director, Stuart Maunder AM, who has kept it faithful to the original Broadway production back in 1979. Stuart has taken advantage of Roger Kirk’s original dark wooden setting with heavy, swirling costumes to conjure up an unsettling atmosphere of victorian London streets, shrouded in ever-present fog, which shadowy figures appear and disappear.
"There's a hole in the world like a great black pit and it's full with people who are filled with sh*t and the vermin of the world in habit it".
Playing the role of the cutthroat Demon Barber Sweeney Todd is Ben Mingay (whose played in other stage roles and TV shows such as Shrek the Musical, Pirates of Penzance and Packed to the Rafters). He certainly delivered the deep and dark tones of the character with his performance, both cold and calm. He joins the long line of actors/singers who have held the silver razors including Johnny Depp, Australian musical legend Anthony Warlow and singer-songwriter Josh Groban, who is currently starring in a production on Broadway.
Stealing the show is the cheeky, funny and flirty Antoinette Halloran as Sweeney's partner in crime and owner of the Worst Pies in London, Mrs Lovett. Her warmth and brightness is much needed to combat Sweeney's cold and dark image.
The rest of the 18 people strong cast were on stoppable while on stage including Kanen Breen, as the slithering Beadle Banford, Dean Vince as the corrupt and great Judge Turpin, Jeremi Campese as the pure hearted Tobias Ragg, Harry Targett and Ashleigh Rubenach as the star cross lovers Anthony and Johanna.
Watching Sweeney Todd live really makes you appreciate the late Stephen Sondheim's work and Sweeney Todd is undoubtedly his best in my books.
Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is currently playing till 27 August 2023.
Come and visit your good friend Sweeney at Sydney Opera while you still have the chance:
Great review. Never seen this show but so many people speaking highly of it.