Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd
Denver Center Theater Company
Denver, CO
April 15 - May 15, 2016

Sweeney Todd is a difficult show to produce. It is difficult to sing, difficult to stage and often difficult to stomach. But the Denver Center Theater company has never backed away from a challenge.
Sweeney Todd is a black comedy, horror story and tragic operetta.

The show began with “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd.” It was staged as a funeral. A hole opened up in the center of the stage with smoke rising from it. Each character approached the hole and threw something in – as if they were attempting to remove all trace of the man from their lives. At the end of the song, Sweeney rose from this “grave” to tell his own story. It was a powerful beginning.

After the ceremonial opening song, we moved directly into the tale. Through Sweeney’s new friend Anthony, we learn about the wrongs which drove him away from London. Once the background was established, we traveled with Sweeney as he attempted reclaim his life. What he found is even more tragic than when he left. As Sweeney’s thoughts turned to revenge, the tone of the story changed. Revenge is a desire most experience over the course of our lives and as we watched Sweeney turn that desire into action, we were both understanding and horrified.

The crux of the story is Sweeney's descent into the very depravity he is fighting against. The characters he meets along the way have their own agendas and all are affected by his desire for vengeance. His landlady Mrs. Lovett is less than subtle in willingness to stoop to any low.

Each character is perfectly cast in their roles and their voices add an operatic component to the discordant music. The serious tone is eased with several comic songs including “Try a Little Priest.” Despite the blackness of the subject, the masterful way it was performed made the audience laugh.

The darkness of the score is highlighted by two beautiful ballads – “Joanna” and “Not While I’m Around." The beauty of the songs and performance remind the audience of the reality of these people in this tragic story.

The new orchestrations by DeVotchka may not be noticeable to most and that is a tribute to how well they fit the show. The music has a less grand, more disjointed feel than the original.

The set created the mood perfectly. It transported the audience to industrial age London. The multi-level background gave characters a place to walk as they traversed the city. Mrs. Lovett’s shop easily moved on and off the stage and even turned to create more rooms. In Act Two the audience was transported to the shop's basement where the enormous oven spewed smoke. It was as if we were in the bowels of hell.

My only complaint about the show was Sweeney’s famous barber chair, which unfortunately had major technical difficulties at the performance I saw. The first issue at the start of Act Two was disruptive. But the second at the climax of the show was devastating. Seeing the last victim have to walk down the stairs and off stage felt amateurish. In a high quality production like this, it was a huge let down.

Overall, Sweeney Todd is an outstanding production. However, it is not for everyone. With difficult topics like murder, rape and cannibalism, it could upset sensitive viewers. But for those who can stomach the dark subject matter, it is a must see.