As some of you from Halifax might know, sometimes I’m lucky enough to get to attend and review Neptune Theatre performances. This past Wednesday I saw Sweeney Todd.
I’ve actually never seen the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp/Helena Bonham Carter film version, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. No doubt about it, Sweeney Todd is a weird musical. But the folks at Neptune did a great job of it.
First of all, the sets. Fantastic!
The creepy looks on the actors’ faces was particularly intense from my spot in the front row.
Sweeney Todd is about a barber in 1846 London, who returns home after being sent to a penal colony on trumped up charges. He discovers that his wife had poisoned herself after being raped by a judge, and his young daughter is now his ward. Sweeney Todd vows to seek revenge, and begins killing patrons of his barbershop and then baking them into pies with the help of his friend Mrs. Lovett.
It sounds weird because it is, but it’s darkly funny and strange and has some really good twists. The music is very catchy, and I had one of the songs stuck in my head for the rest of the night.
Everyone in the play was great, but I think Mrs. Lovett (played by Shelley Simester) really stood out. She was so funny and energetic.
Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett
Sweeney Todd is running at Neptune Theatre until October 7th, and I definitely recommend checking it out if dark comedies are your thing. Neptune’s got a killer season planned, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them do Elf: The Musical this Christmas, and Legally Blonde in the Spring.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Couchtime/~3/sWv7sij5r4s/
