Cap & Bells’ production of “Sweeney Todd” a cut above

Surely by now, many readers of The Hawk have seen the film version of “Sweeney Todd” starring Johnny Depp as the infamous “Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” But seeing it performed live on stage is a spectacle all in itself. Mind you, it’s not every day I describe a musical with the following combination of words, but Cap & Bells’ production of “Sweeney Todd” is unarguably comically macabre in all aspects of the phrase, right down to its tragic conclusion.

I suppose that with a subject matter so dark and vengeful, comic relief was necessary (a certain barber showdown won by Todd comes readily to mind).  The production certainly sets the mood: creepy right off the bat with an appropriately chilling soundtrack. The fantastic set design only serves to add to this effect. 

Nick Virginio,’10, plays the role of the demon barber himself, with a spectacular entrance during the opening number. Virginio, as Todd, sets the tone with a dark, disturbed appearance before the story has even started.

The show is not entirely Virginio’s, however, as there are two notable supporting actors, as well as an eerie, talented ensemble, who help “attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.” Mike Gliva, ’11, plays the role of the kind-hearted-yet-ultimately-effected Anthony Hope.  Hope serves as a stark contrast to Todd at first, but as the story wears on, it becomes clear that his friendship with Todd has scarred him for life.  Also not to be forgotten is the comedic yet hauntingly disturbing performance of Veronica Polce, ’13, as Mrs. Lovett, whose meat pies may very well be the worst in all of London.  That is, until the similarly haunting Todd arrives.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Todd had been a very successful barber in London under his real name, Benjamin Barker, with a lovely wife and child.  The tyrannical Judge Turpin (Tony Cassidy) had sentenced Todd away to exile for 15 years for a crime he did not commit, while his wife poisoned herself and Turpin adopted his daughter, Johanna (Anabelle Garcia, ’11).  Now Todd has returned with an assumed name and a lust for Turpin’s blood.  He befriends Mrs. Lovett, and the two enact their plan to bake Todd’s victims into meat pies.

Meanwhile, Anthony Hope, Todd’s friend who helped him return to London, falls in love with Johanna and teams up with Todd to free her from Turpin’s eagle-eyed watch.  The audience can really feel the melancholy of Todd’s plight as he gets closer to achieving his end goal: to get Turpin into his barbershop.

Overall, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” is well worth the $9 ticket to see the show.  Sure, the film was nice and scary, but there is something much more to be said for seeing it live and in person.  Todd’s and Lovett’s morbid plan is sure to inspire nightmares for sleepless nights to come. Though, to be fair, Cap & Bells probably wants it that way. The production ran from April 21 through April 25 at Bluett Theatre in Post Hall.