Review of 'Sweeney Todd' at Connecticut Repertory Theatre

Pictured above: Andréa Burns (The Beggar Woman) and Terrence Mann (Todd) SWEENEY TODD directed by Peter Flynn, in onstage at Connecticut Repertory Theatre thru July 1, 2018. Tickets and info at crt.uconn.edu or 860-486-2113. Photo by Gerry Goodstein


Storrs, CT - Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) continues the 2018 Nutmeg Summer Series with an absolutely amazing production of ‘SWEENEY TODD The Demon Barber of Fleet Street A Musical Thriller in Concert’ that opened on Friday evening. Music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim with a book by Hugh Wheeler from an adaptation by Christopher Bond. The orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunic.

SWEENEY TODD is the dark Tony-Award-winning tale of love, murder and revenge set against the backdrop of 19th century London. My companion knew nothing about the show and I purposely did not tell her too much as not to ruin the experience of this show that can be an acquired taste. She loved it.

For the uninitiated, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to London seeking vengeance against the lecherous Judge Turpin who framed him and ravaged his young wife Lucy. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, the resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires a new ingredient for her meat pies that has the people of London lining up…and the carnage has only just begun.

Peter Flynn marvelously directed the cast in what was billed as a concert version of the musical. Mr. Flynn’s New York credits include Actors’ Fund concerts of ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, CHESS and FUNNY GIRL with Whoopi Goldberg and Andrea Martin. His recent credits include CURVY WIDOW off-Broadway, RAGTIME for Ford’s Theatre and KISS ME, KATE! for the Maltz-Jupiter Theatre. He was assisted in the CRT production by UConn student Eddie Vitcavage, who told me that is had been an “absolute blast helping to put it together.”

The talk during intermission was that for all intents and purposes, this was a fully staged production of SWEENEY. The path that the slaughtered bodies took from the demon barber’s chair to the cellar was suggested rather than shown, but this was the only omission that I noticed. The set, the costumes and makeup, and the staging were certainly up to the level of any other SWEENEY that I have seen and microphones on stands only appeared in the fabulous opening number. Sound design by Michael Vincent Skinner, a professor at SCSU, was admirable.

Ever since Terrence Mann (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LES MISERABLES) came to UConn last summer to serve as Artistic Director for the Nutmeg Summer Series, I knew that I would not miss the chance to see the Broadway star on this stage in whatever he chose to do. I was in the third row for a performance of PIPPIN on Broadway when Mr. Mann played King Charlemagne opposite his wife Charlotte d'Amboise as Fastrada, and last year he served as the host of the Connecticut Critics Circle Awards when it was held at my alma mater Sacred Heart University; needless to say, I am a fan. When I learned that Mr. Mann would star as Sweeney Todd in his second season at UConn, I could not have been more excited to make the trek to Storrs.

The three-time Tony Award nominee most recently performed off-Broadway in the title role Broadway in JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA for which he received a Lucile Lortell nomination. On Broadway, Mann was The Man in the Yellow Suit in TUCK EVERLASTING. He can be seen in the final installment of the Netflix Series “Sense8” premiering in June. Other Broadway credits include: LES MISERABLES, CATS, BARNUM, and that Tony winning revival of PIPPIN.

From the first word of his recorded house announcements (in character of course,) Mr. Mann was the quintessential Sweeney Todd. He sang the delicious score wonderfully and did well with the tiny bits of comedy in the horror of it all. This was a masterful performance that I will be proud to say I saw on opening night in my home state.

Liz Larsen (BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, STARMITES on Broadway) returned to the CRT stage as Nellie Lovett. Ms. Larsen earned a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk nomination for her performance in Broadway’s THE MOST HAPPY FELLA. She previously appeared at CT Rep in LES MISERABLES and THE ODD COUPLE. Her take on the iconic Mrs. Lovett was perfect, love.

Ms. Larsen writes in her bio that she is thrilled to be on the stage with her eldest son, chorus member Alessandro Viviano. Mr. Viviano, a Hartt School graduate, was in the ensemble of THE AGE OF INNOCENCE and Future in A CHRISTMAS CAROL - A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS at Hartford Stage. His CRT credits include 1776 and NEWSIES.

Broadway veteran Andréa Burns made her CRT debut in the challenging role of the Beggar Woman. Most recently, she has been in the Broadway production of ON YOUR FEET! She also won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for IN THE HEIGHTS, where she created the role of Daniela. Ms. Burns made the most of the part of this ever present and crazed character.

Ed Dixon made his CRT debut as Judge Turpin. His previous Broadway credits include ANYTHING GOES, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, and MARY POPPINS. He played the creepy judge with aplomb.

Kenneth Galm, a student pursuing his BFA in Musical Theatre at Western CT State University, made his CRT debut in the role of Tobias Ragg. This very talented actor is a graduate of the Ensign-Darling Fellowship at the Bushnell and it showed in his vocal performance. His most recent credits include EVITA at WCSU and the role of Pippin in CLYBOURNE PARK ALONG WITH PIPPIN at West Hartford Summer Arts Festival. Mr. Galm graciously thanks his wonderful teachers at WCSU in his bio for his first professional performance at CRT.

Lu DeJesus, a junior at Western CT State University who played Larry in COMPANY and was Eva’s brother in EVITA, took on the role of Beadle Bamford. University of Michigan rising junior Hugh Entrekin sang well as the earnest Anthony Hope, and Hartt School rising senior Nicholas Gonzalez did well with the roles of Pirelli and Daniel O’Higgins. Emilie Kouatchou, another rising senior at the University of Michigan, played Johanna Barker.

The tight ensemble included Ryan Albinus of North Carolina, UConn grad student Alex Campbell, University of Michigan rising senior Cydney Clark, Hartt School rising senior Olivia Fenton, University of Michigan student Lauryn Hobbs, Western Carolina University graduate Kelly McCarty, Charlie Patterson (1776 at CRT,) Gregory Rodriguez, and WCSU rising junior Brandon Wolfe (EVITA, VIOLET at WCSU.)

Ken Clifton was an amazing music director and conductor; his twelve on stage musicians made the complex score sound magnificent. Kudos to Mr. Mann for bringing the music director to the forefront to take a bow with the cast members during the curtain call.

The scenic design by Tim Brown set the dark scene without overpowering the onstage orchestra. The costumes designed by Christina Bullard hit the mark and the lighting design by Alan C. Edwards was brilliant.

This high quality production featuring four talented Equity members is completely worth the trip to UConn Storrs. Don’t miss it. Single tickets are on sale at crt.uconn.edu or 860-486-2113.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Tw