Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
By Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
Produced by Atlantis Theatricals starring Lea Salonga
Reviewed by Kenneth Lyen
INTRODUCTION
The very first time that I have seen Lea Salonga live is in Sweeney Todd. And she is worth every cent!
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SYNOPSIS
This is a darkly humorous story about a barber Benjamin Barker who is seeking revenge on Judge Turpin who was lusting after his wife, and then falsely convicted and exiled him. Fifteen years later, Barker returns and assumes the pseudonym of Sweeney Todd, with the plan to kill the judge. Working as a barber, Sweeney Todd kills some of his customers with his razor. The meat taken from the corpses is processed and converted into meat pies by Mrs Lovett, Sweeney Todd’s accomplice.
After multiple murders, eventually Sweeney Todd exacts his revenge. There is a subplot of a returning young man, Anthony, who falls in love with Johanna, Sweeney Todd’s daughter, who is caged up by Judge Turpin in his home. This love story is the only glimmer of hope in this macabre tale.
CAST
Lea Salonga plays the role of Mrs Lovett who boasts of making the worst meat pies in London in her song “The Worst Pies in London”. Her shop is located along Fleet Street in the very building that Sweeney Todd and his family used to live. Initially she is comical in her role, but then when she has that light bulb flash of inspiration in converting the murdered victims’ bodies into meat pies, you realise how deranged she is. When Lea sings the beautiful duet “No-one’s Gonna Harm You” with the young Toby, she displays her motherly love, until suddenly the boy realizes his former employer Mr Pirelli has been murdered, and she turns on him and locks him up in the basement. You then see the depth of her cruelty. This entire kaleidoscope of emotions is portrayed in nuanced and convincing detail by Lea Salonga.
Jett Pangan plays the title role of Sweeney Todd. He has a remarkable voice range and his bottled anger plus menacing demeanour fits the role perfectly. Sweeney Todd is obsessed in getting revenge on the iniquitous Judge Turpin who wrongly accused and sentenced him to prison in Australia, as well as later mistreating his wife and wanting to marry his daughter.
Nyoy Volante plays the flamboyant Italian-accented Mr Pirelli, the barber who sells a sham elixir to promote hair growth. He later reveals that he is the Irish lad who used to work for Sweeney Todd. He becomes Sweeney’s first victim.
Luigi Quesada plays the role of Toby, Mr Pirelli’s young employee. His first song “Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir” selling his employer’s bogus concoction captures the sparkling mood just right. Indeed He injects youth and vitality into the show.
Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante play the role of Johanna, Sweeney Todd’s daughter who has been kept like a prisoner by Judge Turpin. She is spotted by Sweeney Todd’s ship companion Anthony, who falls in love with her at first sight. The metaphor of her being a caged bird longing to be set free is most apt. Her performance is flawless, and she has a great voice.
Gerald Santos play Anthony, the love-stricken young man who makes contact with Johanna and eventually sets her free. He has an excellent singing voice, and he is just right for the role. The two love birds are the only normal people in this musical, and at the end, there is a hint that they will have a happy ending.
The rest of the cast is solid and lends weight and momentum to the story.
The orchestra is excellent and is conducted by Lea Salonga’s brother Gerard Salonga.
SETS AND LIGHTING
What bothered me was the set design. The musical is set in 19th century London, but dangling in the backdrop are three dilapidated cars. A much larger American car is used on stage as a platform for the barber shop, as the competition between Sweeney Todd and Mr Pirelli, and many other scenes. The cars are inappropriate for the era, and this anachronistic disconnect is very jarring.
My other complaint is that throughout the show, the lighting is very dim, and while it might add to the tragic mood, unfortunately you cannot see the actors' faces too clearly, and it diminishes the variations in the scene-to-scene atmosphere.
ATLANTIS THEATRICAL
Atlantis Theatrical is a Filipino production company that was started 20 year ago. It has produced many Broadway and West End plays and musicals in the Philippines. It has uncovered a vast array of Filipino talents in all areas of theatre. Judging from the quality of Sweeney Todd, it has achieved international standards.
CONCLUSIONS
Sweeney Todd is definitely worth watching. However, be warned that this is a very dark musical with multiple murders and cannibalism occupying centre stage. Do not bring your children.
Reviewed by Kenneth Lyen
28 November 2019
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ADDENDUM: VIDEO RECORDINGS OF OTHER SHOWS
There are three video recordings of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd, the musical. The first is the 1982 TV movie starring Angela Lansbury and George Hearn, which tackles the musical in a lighter, more comical way. Second is the concert version starring Patti LuPone and George Hearn, which is also not too serious. The third is Tim Burton’s film version starring Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp is darkest and closest to the stage version.
