Who gets eaten and who gets to eat?
These delectable lyrics from the song, “A Little Priest” set the tone of SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which opens Friday November 2 and entertains for three weekends at Town and Country Players Theatre, York Rd. Buckingham.
This unusual musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler is described by Music Theatre International as a “chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous barbarism and culinary crime.”
Sophisticated, macabre, visceral and uncompromising, SWEENEY TODD has a great sense of fun mixed with intense drama and dark humor,” director Nancy Ridgeway said.
“Music director, Don Tenenblatt and I chose to stay true to the original intention of the author and present an intimate rendition of this show using just two pianos, creating the feel of a thoroughfare similar to that of Fleet Street in 1849, maintaining a simple set in order to afford the music and performances the attention they so deserve.”
Sweeney Todd is Sondheim’s story of the obsession and revenge of Todd, a barber by profession, who returns to London after 15 years of unjust incarceration in an Australian penal colony. His goal is to seek revenge on the corrupt judge who sent him there, and ravaged his young wife.
But ultimately, he seeks revenge on anyone unfortunate enough to end up in his shop.
It is a dark and interesting tale, told through complicated musical prose and an exquisite score. In his own words, Sondheim characterizes his masterpiece as a “musical thriller.” Opening in 1979 under the direction of Hal Prince, the show ran for 557 performances winning three Tony awards, four Drama Desk awards, and the Oliver awared for best New Musical.
Twenty-two cast members come from all over the Greater Philadelphia region. Playing the nine major roles are Michael Schiumo, Horsham, as the obsessed and revenge-seeking Sweeney Todd and Valerie Sharper, Warminster, as Mrs. Lovett who joins Todd, showing her “entrepreneurial” talents.
Completing the main roles are Diana Allen (Johanna), Lansdale; Glenn Kraft (Anthony), Jamison; Tony Zortea (Judge Turpin), Pipersville; Justin Derry (Beadle), Langhorne; John Zimmerman (Pierelli), Hamilton, NJ; Gavin Becker (Toby), Villanova; Melissa Angelo-Schiumo (Beggar Woman), Horsham; and Ken Ambs (Fog and ensemble), Newtown.
Remaining outstanding ensemble members are Paul Mangan, Julie McFadden, Amanda Mitnik, Ron Sisca, Doylestown; Kim O’Bryne-Rozman, Pavel Rozman, Jamison; Marysa Scalia, Furlong; Stuart Myles, Newtown; Maria Theodorou, Bensalem; John Wishnie, Morrisville; Laura Buttenbusch, Alisa Thammavong, Philadelphia; John Zimmerman and Stephanie Moon, Hamilton, NJ;
Producer for SWEENEY TODD is John Demeter. David Sharper designed and built the sets with his crew. Scott Monsess is Lighting Designer.
Show dates and times for this adult musical (not suitable for children) are as follows: November 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 at 8 PM. Matinees are at 3 Pm on Nov. 4 and 11.
Reserved seat tickets at $18 are available at the door or a first come, first served basis or in advance through HYPERLINK "http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/213790" "_blank" http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/213790.
