Mezzanine Musings: Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

 

(WARNING! This post contains a few spoilers. Read at your own risk!)

No. Never in a million years would I ever say, “Huh. You know, I really want to go see a musical about a murderous barber, how ‘bout you?” I’m sorry if that's weird, but watching someone kill a ton of people with razors and then singing about it just didn’t sound like my cup of tea. 

And I know this is a controversial subject, but I’m also not a super Sondheim fan. (I’m not a hater, he’s just not my preferred style). So why the heck would I ever go to see Sweeney Todd?

We had some friends go to New York before us, and they saw the show starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, and that we should definitely go if we could. (Shout out to GC and CC!)

But none of that mattered until I found out that SUTTON FOSTER was going to play Mrs Lovett while we were in New York.

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I was in Shrek the Musical a few years ago, and that was my first exposure to Sutton Foster. I watched her performance on Netflix over and over until they took it off, and I was totally hooked. I mean, she is one of my favourite Broadway performers ever. And miss a chance to see her IN REAL LIFE on Broadway? No way!

So that's how we ended up seeing a  musical about a murderous barber as one of my four special birthday shows. 

Sweeny Todd premiered on Broadway on March 1st, 1979, closing June 29th, 1980, after 557 performances and 19 previews, and has since then had many revivals. When we went to the matinee on March 17th, it was performed in the Lunt-Fontanne Theater. I think it's become somewhat of a cult classic, though the show is less known than others such as Wicked or Hamilton. Even still, the theater was filled. With book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, it is a favorite for Sondheim fans.

Many notable names have been a part of the legacy of this show, including Annaleigh Ashford, Imelda Staunton (Mrs Lovett, Third West-End Revival [How cool is that? I love Harry Potter]), Celia Keenan-Bolger, (Johanna, Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration [Sister of Andrew Keenan-Bolger, who I love. Andrew, if you see this, you're awesome]) Eddie Korbich, and Josh Groban, but the run I went to drew in crowds of people who came to the show for specific actors. 

Sweeny himself was portrayed by Aaron Tveit, who won a Tony Award for his performance as Christian in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and has been in numerous other shows and television. (Interestingly enough, I’ve heard that Tveit was actually the only actor in his category for his tony award, so he actually won by default. Hmm🤔)

Sutton Foster, who won a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award for her performance in The Music Man, and a Tony Award for both Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie, took on the role of Mrs Lovett. And with Marvel star Joe Locke as Tobias, Maria Bilbao in her broadway debut as Johanna, and Sondheim nerd Daniel Yearwood as Anthony, it was a star-studded cast. 

Walking into the theater, you were completely transported. Everything was staring back at you, gaunt and eerie, just as it should be.

It’s a simple set that is used in different ways, with a bridge, that becomes a barber shop, that becomes an upstairs room, and a crane, that becomes a meat house, that becomes an asylum. One cool thing is an elevator-like part of the floor, where characters can rise up through the floor, surrounded by fog, making creepy, gaunt faces. At the beginning, the entire chorus rises out of the floor. I cannot describe the thrilling chills that moment gives you. And I’d love to tell you about how the barber chair worked, but I’ve spoiled enough Sondheim secrets now, haven’t I?

 

Sutton Foster was incredible. She is such a physical actress, and just knows how to play the audience so well and get all the laughs. It was so inspiring to see her in real life!!! One thing I took away from the performance is how dedicated she was to the role. She was in character in every scene, with great facial expressions and comedic timing, not to mention her crazy good accent! She is also so flexible - at one point she sat down on the stage and bent entirely in half. I wish I could do that! It was definitely worth the wild show to come and see her, she totally delivered. 

I also loved Daniel Yearwood, who played Anthony Hope. He had a wonderful voice and a sweet longing about him. I’d say Joe Locke was also a standout for his character and simplicity and truth in her performance, and I have to say I was very impressed by Maria Bilbao, who was making her Broadway debut as Johanna, such a big role!

The show was spooky, funny, quirky, and darkly colourful, and even though I was hesitant at first, I think I would recommend it now. Listen to the Soundtrack, learn about the history and the story, and if you have a chance to perform in it, do it!

Remember to stop and smell the roses! Curtain up!

Rosie