Sweeney Todd – a review by parent Jane Sabherwal who attended the tale on the last night
Organ music sent a chill through the air and the stage slowly began to seethe with corpses returning from the dead to tell us their gruesome story. The audience shrank a little, uncertain as to what they were going to witness. When Sweeney Todd dramatically rose from his coffin, everyone knew it was going to be a totally gripping horror spectacle – no-one hid behind their seat and no-one was disappointed.
Rob Le Mare’s total absorption in the lead role, deserves our highest admiration and respect. Rob demanded our attention every second of the play whether in the spotlight or not, and his moody transformation from optimist to deep dark madness was completely mesmerising. His portrayal as the distraught, obsessive husband will stay with us for ever.
Sweeney’s quest for vengeance and salvation was subtly guided by the beguiling and quirky Mrs Lovett, brilliantly portrayed by Grace Gallop. Grace delivered some very complex scores with dark humour and delight, most notably A Little Priest; and her wonderfully staged scene, By the Sea, brought an incongruous sense of reality to the melodrama. What a stroke of brilliance to film in Clevedon! Mixing the contemporary design media was incredibly effective throughout the musical, so too the costumes and make-up.
Beautful duets by Callum Orkney and Rebecca Barclay, added a ray of hope to this dark tale, and the outrageously debonair and eccentric Pirelli, played so mischievously by Tom Coope, punctuated Victorian London with colour! The Miracle Elixir & Hot Pies scenes gave the chorus the opportunity to prove they were as polished and professional as the main cast. Working organically as a mass, they maintained the momentum of a very stylised production - the slow motion scene was outstanding, the lunatic asylum edgy, and the dramatic use of the chair, unnerving.
George Magner and Will Noble played the perfect double act as Judge Turpin and his Beadle, with the Pretty Woman duet between Turpin and Todd bringing unexpected humour to a macabre moment in the show. Emma Hacking gave an emotional performance as the unrecognisable Lucy, shadowing the main protagonists, and Jodie Micciche as Tobias, delivered not only the ideal support role for Mrs Lovett, but some incredible vocal performances.
Sondheim’s detailed musical arrangement was played flawlessly by the orchestra and enhanced the drama much as a film score does a film, creating tension and relief at key moments. Fantastic to be able to hear the harp and flute.
The sound and lighting added real atmosphere, especially the use of red uplighting and Mrs Lovett’s breathless walk from pie room to shop; and the stage crew worked smoothly and efficiently with the most multidimensional and complicated set yet.
Hiring the set was pure genius, because it inspired the cast to deliver magnificent performances – so many in the audience said it was like being at the Hippodrome. I will always regret only going to see it once.
Sweeney Todd
