Pared-down 'Sweeney' returns to roots

The Baltimore Sun

Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, which is playing at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, is a cut above the usual outdoor seasonal fare.

Sondheim's musical tale of the 19th-century Demon Barber of Fleet Street, who returns to London for revenge after being unjustly exiled to an Australian prison by a villainous judge, mixes suspenseful drama with dark wit in a near-operatic score.

In his program notes, ASGT director Ron Giddings explains that he is trying to return to the show's roots: Sondheim envisioned a small chamber piece before it became a big Broadway production. Giddings shrinks the Greek chorus of 20 to four to move along the action in what he describes as "this bare bones of the show," revealing truths that the audience members might relate to through their own darkness.

Still Sweeney Todd remains a large production for Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, with the stage expanded vertically to levels where much action takes place. Devoid of many props, the spare set works well.

From the opening scene where black-robed actors move slowly through the aisles and onto the stage to begin this musical based on the Dies Irae (Roman Catholic Mass for the dead), this production creates intense multilayered drama that inspires soulful reflection.

Fearsome in pale makeup with darkened hollowed eyes, David Thompson is Sweeney Todd, never wavering from his vengeful quest. Thompson delivers Sondheim's lyrics with coolness and deft wit - his rich baritone best displayed in "My Friends" (lovingly sung to his recovered barber tools) and "Pretty Women" in a baritone duet with Judge Turpin.

Together with his landlord, Mrs. Lovett (played by singer-actress Debbie Barber-Eaton), Todd sings "A Little Priest" where she sings: "Seems an awful waste / I mean with the price of meat / what it is / when you get it / if you get it," followed by Todd's "The history of the world, my sweet / is who gets eaten and who gets to eat" and ending together with "We'll not discriminate great from small! / No, we'll serve anyone / meaning anyone /And to anyone / at all." Barber-Eaton is so perfectly cast as Mrs. Lovett that she seems predestined to play the role played by Angela Lansbury in the original 1979 Broadway production.

As the pragmatic pie maker seeking love, Barber-Eaton delivers most of the play's comedy, laced with the spice of savoring her delicious meat pies' secret contents. Barber-Eaton conveys Lovett's loneliness, optimism and amorality along with her affection and sensual longing for Todd.

Her inspired singing in the lovely "By the Sea" and in duets with Thompson add to these qualities.

Perhaps also predestined and intriguing is that the cast includes actors named Barber and Sweeney. Alicia B. Sweeney plays the tragic beggar woman with a combination of mystery and tragedy that seems a near-perfect characterization.

Giddings plays the role of Tobias Ragg, the boy who works in Mrs. Lovett's bakery, warmly expressing his devotion to her in "Not While I'm Around." Giddings invests in this essentially simple character with surprising strength and decency.

Jamie Boyle, who plays Anthony Hope, suitor to Johanna - the daughter of Sweeney Todd who was adopted by the wicked Judge Turpin - is one of the best singers in the show. I also admired Jim Knost as Judge Turpin, Stephen Deininger as Adolfo Pirelli and Kevin Cleaver as Beadle Bamford.

The "Greek chorus" quartet of Kaitlyn Myers, Catherine Chiappa, Simon Pyles and John Halmi does a great job of keeping the action moving while revealing underlying motivations and emotions. But I wasn't always able to understand every word. A combination of poor enunciation and an overpowering 12-piece orchestra might have contributed to the problem.

Despite minor flaws, ASGT's Sweeney Todd is an ambitious undertaking that deserves to be seen by all Sondheim fans and everyone who appreciates the art of classic Broadway musicals.

The show runs Thursdays to Sundays through July 28. Children younger than age 5 are never admitted to ASGT, and Summer Garden reminds parents that Sweeney Todd does contain a mature theme. Reservations: 410-268-9212.

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