The classic musical Sweeney Todd which was recently turned into a Hollywood movie starring Johnny Deep and Helena Bonham Carter in 2007 was first staged on Broadway in 1979 and closed the following year earning itself Nine Tony Award nominations, winning eight of them including Best Musical. The show transferred to London in 1980 closing later that year; despite the mixed reviews the show won Best Musical at the Olivier Awards. The show has since then had multiple revivals on Broadway in 1989 and 2005 and in London in 1993, 2004 and the most recent Chichester Production which transferred to the West End in March 2012.
The show recieved positive
reviews from critics and was labelled a must see by everyone who saw it, so it
was only right that the production made its way over to London so West End
audiences could experience it. The score by Stephen Sondheim is intelligent
and interesting, his lyrics are very powerful and every song was a moving moment
for all characters. However I can't help but feel a few of the songs were a bit
much to take in a at times, I zoned out in a few of them and was thinking about
what I was going to have for dinner the next day. But they were delivered
brilliantly by the cast and were modernised greatly in this production while
still keeping the original essence that Sondheim intended to have.
The
direction by Jonathan Kent complemented the show greatly, as did Denni Sayers
movement direction. The Set and costume by Anthony Ward fitted the period of
the show and kept to the original concept which the 2005 Broadway production
ignored completely. Mark Henderson's Lighting was wonderful and again
complemented the show marvellously and all the creative aspects of the show were
as one and you can tell the design of the show as an entire production was worked on until it was perfect.
Michael Ball stars in the production as Sweeney Todd with Imelda Staunton as
Mrs Lovett. Michael Ball is almost unrecognisable as the character and his
portrayal of the role was almost perfect. He brings some personality to the role
rather than going down the root of making him as interesting as a sheet of
cardboard as Johnny Deep showed us in the 2007 film of the musical. He was,
however, still a little 'musical theatre' in the role and there were a few
moment when I found him scary but he lost those completely after about three
seconds, if he carried those moments through the whole show his Sweeney Todd
would definitely go down in musical theatre history. But his dedication to the
role was fantastic but just not scary and freaky enough, I wanted to see what
was going on in Sweeney's head but Michael just didn't show this.
Imelda
Staunton was my favourite thing in this production; her Mrs Lovett can only be
described as brilliant. She brought out so many comedy aspects of the character
which Stephen Sondheim put in there on purpose for people to bring out in and
Imelda does it perfectly. She was the highlight in the show and her
interpretation of the role is something that every Theatre goer has to go and
experience. The two were great leads of the production but the supporting
cast were equally as good. Robert Burt, as much as he resembled the Go Compare Man, was delightful as Pirelli. John
Bowe and Peter Polycarpou had great understanding of who their characters were,
John's Judge Turpin was interesting as the audience really could see what he was
trying to put across and Peter's Beadle Bamford complemented Judge Turpin as
well.
Luke Brady had a beautiful voice as Antony; he played an honest and
kind character that was divine to watch. James McConville as Tobias was
good. He fitted the role but his voice grated on me at times, but no one can say
he wasn't decent as Tobias. Gillian Kirkpatrick was incredible as the Beggar
Woman, it's such a hard role to play well but she succeeded greatly in
portraying a crazy, old woman who the audience could also feel for as well! A
very hard job done fantastically by Gillian. Lucy May Barker was beautiful
as Johanna. She played her as a sweet, innocent young girl and her 'Green Finch
and Linnet Bird' was beautifully sung with great control. The ensemble
provided astonishing vocals, it's a shame the opening song was so quiet though
because what I could catch from it was spin chilling.
The production as a
hole is tremendous; this limited run is exactly what needs to be presented for
West End audiences. Filled with fantastic performances, the show is just waiting
to thrill you.
Rating: ****
Sweeney Todd ran at the Adelphi Theatre and closed on September 22nd2012
