How to Go
What: “Sweeney Todd”
Where: The Lofino Center, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek
When: Through Nov. 9; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Nov. 2 and next Sunday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m.
Cost: $12-$15
Tickets: Call (937) 429-4737, e-mail boxoffice@bctheatre.org or visit online at www.bctheatre.org.
FYI: The production contains adult language and themes.
Composer Stephen Sondheim and librettist Hugh Wheeler’s marvelously macabre 1979 Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” continues through next Sunday as part of Beavercreek Community Theatre’s alternative Edge of the Creek programming.
A chilling, darkly humorous tale of murder, insanity, vengeance, and romance set in Victorian London, “Sweeney Todd” concerns the titular sadistic barber (formerly Benjamin Barker) determined to kill the malicious Judge Turpin, who sent him to jail on a trumped-up charge and adopted his daughter Johanna while he was incarcerated. With devoted assistance from the kooky Mrs. Lovett, a pitiful pie maker who allows him to set up shop above her Fleet Street establishment, Sweeney’s revenge ultimately extends beyond Turpin to his helpless customers whose bodies become meat pies.
“Like many people I regard ‘Sweeney’ as one of the greatest pieces of musical theater ever,” said Chuck Larkowski, who portrays Turpin. “Lots of other shows combine the serious and the farcical, but it seems to me ‘Sweeney’ integrates them in a unique way. I think this is largely because the plot is so well-constructed with all the scenes contributing to the main story. The use of recurring music is also very skillful and organic. The language of the music is complex, maybe more so than in other Sondheim shows, which makes its moments of lyricism and simplicity stand out even more.”
Having recently played the kindhearted Mr. Bennet in Sinclair Community College’s terrific production of “Pride and Prejudice,” Larkowski embraces the opportunity to showcase his versatility in a sinister context. However, he says he doesn’t want to merely embody Turpin as a cruel, one-dimensional villain.
“I’m hoping to portray a tortured human being who simply can’t control his base urges,” he said. “Turpin has sunk into depravity and corruption and can’t stop it even though he still has guilt. If someone in the audience feels even a twinge of sympathy for him, against their better judgment, I’ll be happy.”
“I think the message of this show is that all people have value,” echoed director Doug Lloyd. “Just because you have money and power doesn’t make you better than anybody else. To me, ‘Sweeney’ is not a morality piece, but it’s certainly good entertainment. The music is particularly amazing.”
The principal cast includes Dean Swann as Sweeney Todd, Pamela Matheson-Jones as Mrs. Nellie Lovett, Tony Sollenberger as Anthony Hope, Kami Flanders as Johanna, Mike Stockstill as Adolfo Pirelli, Malcolm Walker as Tobias Ragg, Michael Shannon as Beadle Bamford, and Emily Kronenberger as Beggar Woman. Ensemble members consist of Aaron Brewer, Lindsay Cardoza, Jenn Clark, Janice Codispoti, Samantha Creech, Danielle DeLorme, Jordan Duvall, Caitlyn Erker, John Falkenbach, Kathleen Fanjoy, Jose Gutierrez, Meagan Kuchan, Aaron G. Lopez, and Mary Nunnery.
Lloyd’s artistic team includes music director Kim Warrick, choreographer Stacy Gear, scenic designer Chris Harmon, costumer Carol Finley, and the aforementioned Falkenbach as lighting designer.
Sondheim’s magnificent score, splendidly operatic in scope, features, “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” “The Worst Pies in London,” “My Friends,” “Green Finch and Linnet Bird,” “Johanna,” “Kiss Me,” “Pretty Women,” “Epiphany,” “A Little Priest,” and “Not While I’m Around.”
“This show is artistically challenging, but we’ve come up with a different staging than what most people are used to,” Lloyd added. “I think audiences are going to be in for a fun, interesting experience filled with a few surprises.”
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