SWEENY TODD, Sondheim, New Vic, Newc'le U Lyme, Till May 25
Newcastle Under Lyme
SWEENY TODD: Stephen Sondheim
New Vic: Tkts 01782 717962
Runs: 3h, one interval, till 25 May 2002
Review: Rod Dungate, 3 May 2002
Sondheim's great show clearer than ever in the New Vic's intimate surroundings, gripping stuff
It's a fabulous evening: Chris Monks (who directs) starts his programme note with 'I've always wanted to direct Stephen Sondheim's SWEENY TODD, but never thought anyone would be foolish enough to let me loose on it. The New Vic, though, is a very special place.'
We should be mighty pleased he's been let loose on it, and he's right – the New Vic is a special place. There is a great sense of community ownership about the venue and it's more than evident in this production: nothing patronising, for local choir, Leek's Phoenix Singers, form the steely spine for Chris Monks's gripping production.
In the New Vic's intimate in-the-round space and with un-miked singers, Sondheim's astounding talent is all the clearer. His unerring ability to unify music and plot, to develop character, to layer his text is unmissable. Monks ensures the action moves on relentlessly, keeping the audience caught up in this old tale that suddenly feels modern. In this he aided significantly by Sue Condie's spare, atmospheric settings and Beverley Edmunds's choreography (the latter specially in the second half's opening 'pie shop' sequence – absolute delight.)
The two leads (Craig Pinder and Julie Jupp – Sweeny Todd and Mrs Lovatt) complement each other perfectly. Jupp sings well and has a wonderfully expressive face: she brings out all Mrs Lovatt's darkness but with a flash of her eyes can fill the space with wicked humour. Pinder, on the other hand, is scary indeed. Not only as the show moves onwards and Todd becomes caught up in his revenge, but from the very first second we see him – as he spits out, his face contorted with hatred, 'There's a hole in the world like a great big pit.' But later, the two duet hilariously to list the people they'll put in the pies – priest, lawyer, royal marine, grocer, squire to name but a few.
Among a strong team, Garrie Harvey (Tobias Ragg) is a young man to watch – genuinely moving in his main solo 'Nothing's going to harm you . . . ' And Michael O'Connor shows off his showiness with great aplomb, particularly as Pirelli, the Italian market barber who doesn't quite have the tonsorial skill to beat the Demon Barber himself.
Anthony Hope: Norman Bowman
Beadle Bamford: Claude Close
Beggar Woman: Fiona Dunn
Tobias Ragg: Garrie Harvey
Judge Turpin: Halcro Johnston
Mrs Lovett: Julie Jupp
Johanna: Lisa McNaught
Pirelli/ Jonas Fogg: Michael O'Connor
Sweeney Todd: Craig Pinder
Director: Chris Monks
Designer: Sue Condie
Musical Director: Richard Atkinson
Sound: James Earls-Davis
Lighting: Jo Dawson
Choreographer: Beverley Edmunds
2002-05-10 15:51:03