by Ian Diddams
images by Chris Watkins
Performing Sondheim isn’t the simplest of tasks. Or, rather, singing Sondheim isn’t the simplest of tasks. With his dissonant music, off the beat lyrics and constant interchanges of characters’ lines in songs it takes a lot of practise, a good ear, and huge concentration to meet Sondheim’s demands. Many companies avoid his shows for exactly that reason – and understandably so being fair to them. So it’s an arguably brave company that goes with that direction – and congratulations must go to Trowbridge Musical Theatre (TMT) for pulling it off so well.
Many of you will have seen Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in Tim Burton’s 2007 film, but here was the full stage musical in all its gory glory, the tale of a falsely accused ex-convict turning revenge on those that framed and convicted him allied to a little bit of pie-making on the side.
The set built all but overnight by Bernice Hudson and her crew works really well with pie shop stage left and Todd’s barber’s shop above at mid-level. Stage right is the Judge’s house, with roof garden, the intervening space representing Fleet Street. The set crew have created a three-level space as a result and full kudos to them and Lyn Taylor’s fine eye as director for providing such a visual treat so well utilised constantly drawing our eyes up, down, left, and right. More visual treats in store are the costumes, provided by Sandra Tucker and her team, really hitting the mid-nineteenth century vibe to fully set the tone, and special mention must be made of the work put into hair styling and wigs by Sarah Davies and Lauren Hamblett. Completing the triumvirate is of course the tech team of Jon Lewthwaite, Alex Jacobs and Tony Bonner bringing moody lighting and eerie sound effects expertly. Supporting these creatives was choreographer Daisy Woodruffe and dance captain Hannah Symonds keeping the ensemble moving sinuously during their street scenes, and in perfect unison in the bar scene! All ably assisted – as ever – by Team R-H of Nicky, Cameron, and Connor Runyard-Hunt back together again for this show with Stu Langford, Pete Grant, and Steve Riddle who between them lugged furniture and a huge meat grinder as well as other sundry items on and off stage. And Chris Isaacson as stage manager keeping it all under control at the back!
That of course leaves the thirteen strong orchestra led by Musical Director Samuel Warner performing the crazy Sondheim music with strong and emphatic delivery.
Any show is only as strong as its ensemble and this show’s sixteen strong group kept the show moving along nicely with their choreographed street and bar scenes and constant interactions with each other, as well as providing a bird seller, policemen and grave diggers. Special mention is worthy for Claire Warner, Emily Lawes and Hannah Symonds who performed a typically complex Sondheim trio perfectly, and the entire ensemble’s playing of inmates of Bedlam asylum!
It is the principals of course that take the limelight in any show and drive the story along, and TMT have been blessed with a very strong line-up for this show. The minor principals especially supported the main principals well. Caroline Murray as the beggar woman was deliciously wonderful as the annoying, crazy, old hag and Katy Pattinson shone in her quasi principal-boy role as Tobias Ragg the semi-adopted pie making apprentice who grows from timid shyness to cheeky confidence. Matt Wisener with only two weeks to pick the role of Beadle up, and Andrew Curtis as Judge Turpin provided the corrupt underbelly of authority. Never to be underplayed, the evergreen and versatile excellence of Paul West was once again to the fore as the charlatan barber Adolfo Pirelli, while Alan Rutland played the sleezy, corrupt asylum keeper Jonas Fogg.
Noah Heard as Anthony Hope and Amy Emberson as Johanna provide the show’s love interest as Todd’s fellow sailor colleague and daughter respectively – both with clear, strong and lovely voices and an on-stage chemistry as erstwhile lovers.
Chris Howlett delivers the serial killer Sweeney Todd to perfection … moody, dark, surly, momentarily relaxed once the money is coming in, then finally distraught. Excellently portrayed. And of course, Michelle Hole as Mrs Lovett. Her stage presence was immense, always engaging, with strong voice and great characterisation.
There is however one absolute star of this show. It’s usually unfair to pick a star in a show where everybody has put their blood, sweat and even tears into but it is only right and proper in this performance to announce the standout part is most definitely … The chair! A fully working, depositor of Todd’s victims to Mrs Lovett’s bakehouse complete with handle and trap door. Absolutely Brilliant! Worth the ticket price alone!
“Sweeney Todd” plays at St. Augustine’s Catholic College, Trowbridge from May 28th to 31st.
Tickets from https://trowbridgemusicaltheatre.co.uk/tickets
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