Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
When I found out that this show was coming to Leeds, I
jumped at the chance to go and see it. After watching the film, starring Johnny
Depp and Helena Bonham Carter (2007), the story has stuck with me ever since...it’s
kind of a hard one to forget isn’t it?! Yes, Sweeney Todd still proudly holds
the crown for “the weirdest film I have ever seen in my life”, but I love it. To
this day I still can’t eat a pie without thinking that someone might be in it
and then promptly turning to the person next to me and bursting into a
strikingly off-key rendition of ‘would you like a pie sir?!’ But don’t be put
off by its rather gruesome and grisly plot as it is a really thrilling, albeit
peculiar, story.
This musical theatre classic, with music and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim, tells the tale of Benjamin Barker (later known as Sweeney
Todd), a barber who returns to London after 15 years transportation. Upon his
return, he discovers his wife has poisoned herself and his daughter is living
in the clutches of Judge Turpin, the man responsible for his transportation.
Sweeney then vows to exact his revenge on the judge (and basically anyone else
he can get his hands on) and with a bit of help from revolutionary pie maker,
Mrs Lovett, he becomes the most infamous barber London has ever known.
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| The closest shave you'll ever have! |
The
show begins the moment you set foot in the theatre as you enter to find the
cast already on stage and in character as patients in a mental hospital (this
wasn’t hard to figure out as they were acting very odd). Walking in to find the
show already in motion did seem a little odd and unusual at first (I felt
almost as if I was intruding), but it effectively set the scene and the tone of
the show making you feel as though you were instantly a part of the story – almost
like stepping into a page of a book. The cast, needless to say, were absolutely
brilliant. Despite my disappointment that Johnny Depp wasn’t reprising his role
as Sweeney (wishful thinking, I know), David Birrell was excellent as the
menacing, demon barber capturing his inner torment perfectly. Equally
impressive were Barbara Drennan as Lucy Barker and Gillian Bevan as Mrs Lovett,
the stand out character of this production for me. Although, I have to say I
found Mrs Lovett’s outfits a little odd – they were a bit too pristine and modern,
I thought. I was expecting her to be dressed in something darker and ragged and
a little more gothic, rather than in an outfit that wouldn’t have looked out of
place on a barmaid in Corrie. But still, the kooky nature of Mrs Lovett was
captured perfectly. I will also commend Don Gallagher’s fantastic performance
of Judge Turpin for making me dislike him so much! I disliked Turpin even more in this production
than I did when I watched the film, so much so that I found myself looking
forward to seeing him get his comeuppance, the smug, arrogant,
I’ve-got-so-much-power-its-gone-to-my-head nasty little man!
The
sets were also commendable and Sweeney’s parlour in particular
was exceptionally well staged – it had steps, a sink, a nice little door bell
and a blood red mechanical barber’s chair that I would not recommend sitting
in, ever. I must admit I did feel a
sense of delight when I realised Sweeney’s victims were actually going to be tipped
through the floor! It really was very well done. The fire in the bake oven,
although very simply created, was also very effective. But it’s the songs in
Sweeney Todd that really make this show dazzle and the cast performed them
brilliantly. Johanna, Worst Pies in London, Epiphany and Little Priest were
among my favourites, but there isn’t really a bad song amongst them. I must confess,
I did quiver in my seat a bit during Epiphany, especially when Birrell started
yelling ‘HOW ABOUT A SHAVE?!’ into the audience. I felt myself bowing my head and
hoping it wasn’t going to turn into one of those shows where they start asking
for volunteers. It is such an engrossing and exceptionally gripping story that will
have you invariably sat on the edge of your seat.
This is a fantastic production and is sure to delight any Sweeney
fan. Even if you’re not particularly partial to horror and blood and chopping
people up to put in pies, this show is hard not to like and despite its dark
and sinister plot, it is actually quite comical (I still can’t keep a straight
face when presented with pie). It is certainly one of a kind and I can
guarantee that after seeing this show, you will never look at a pie the same
way again.
This brilliant musical thriller is showing at the West
Yorkshire Playhouse until 26th October, so don’t hang about, get
your tickets here.
Favourite bit: There are so many I could pick, but the scene
in which Sweeney and Mrs Lovett sing Little Priest and rejoice in their plan to
put people in pies is brilliant.
Rating: 9/10
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