We went today to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts production of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,<\/i> and had a great time. It's one of my favorite shows, and it did not disappoint.<\/p>\n
Production<\/b>: The stage was pushed well out into the audience, and well arranged, with sliding and rotating stage pieces (particularly for Mrs Lovett's shop, and its interior, with Sweeney's shop above). Much of it also worked against scaffolding on the back wall to allow the actors to cross the back or enter the higher pieces from the rear.<\/p>\n
The lighting was appropriately spotted and gloomy, with good places for people to slip in and out, and it all fit the proper feel of a dark, sooty, factory-whistle-laden London of the period.<\/p>\n
Actors<\/b>: A nicely diverse cast, with strong talent in the leads. Robert Petkoff as Sweeney had a strong voice (and a nicely authentic-accented accent). Linda Mugleston provides a robust and enjoyable Mrs Lovett. The rest were also quite good, both in acting and as singers.<\/p>\n
Music<\/b>: Part of what made this production unique was the musical arrangement (okayed by Sondheim) by (and performed by) Denver-based Grammy Award-winning gypsy punk band DeVotchKa. Honestly, I didn't feel they added that much (or, on the other hand, took much away), making the music a bit less orchestral, a bit more folk-ish (with a drum beat). I don't regret having seen it, but anyone looking for something really different isn't going to find it here.<\/p>\n
Beyond that, the music was well done, good sound work, strong voices. Three Broadway songs I know of were left out or truncated: the tooth-pulling part of the Pirelli contest; Turpin's self-flagellation song, and when Toby is singing from the basement along with Lovett and the Beadle. None were badly missed (except maybe for the Turpin tune).<\/p>\n
Overall<\/b>: This was the first time +<\/span>Kay Hill<\/a><\/span> had seen the show, and she seemed to have a good time. I expect much breaking into song in the weeks to come. And jokes about meat pies.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n