After Sweeney...

I feel it’s important to give you a picture of my background with theatre. I saw Phantom of the Opera, when I was seven, and saw Little Orphan Annie, when I was ten. So I don’t have much room to talk, critique wise, so I’m going to approach as I am; ignorant.

To begin I was very impressed with all of the stage work and the props/setting. I have seen Sweeney Todd the movie, and wondered how all of the setting mechanics were going to work. The plot was basically perfect in coordination with the movie. Character for character, line for line, song for song, emotion for emotion. I couldn’t believe how accurate all the actors were with their actions and singing. I can’t imagine trying to sing with all of the movement they do. I have a new respect for the actor’s ability to bounce on their knees, run up and down stairs, and never lose tune while singing. It was super entertaining.

Sweeney Todd seemed like the perfect type of show for the theatre. There was just the right mix of singing, and talking/acting. The senses of the play were all present:  drama, two love stories, gore, death, competition, and even bits of comedy. The intensity in which the actor’s have when they deliver to the audience is chilling at times. When the actors stand right at the front of the stage and you feel like they are staring right at you. I feel that would be hard for the actors to do when they have so much going on around them. The one thing that I think would be the hardest thing to do, is being on stage when the light isn’t on you. All the time while Sweeney is on stage there are several times where the spotlight isn’t on him. Though the entire time the Pirelli in singing, Sweeney is still reacting to the words of the song as if they have great meaning to him. He never stood still and became an audience member, he continued to play his part even when the light wasn’t on him. All the actors did this very well. The ensemble had a great impact whenever they came to the front of the stage to increase the intensity and rigor behind Sweeney Todd.

The highlight for me of the show was when the contraption for letting the dead bodies fall out of Sweeney’s chairs and down to the basement. I can tell it took a lot of practice and it was a lot of fun to watch. Over all I had a great time coming in not really knowing what I was getting into. I was impressed all around the bored from costumes/makeup, acting/singing, props/setting, and plot/accuracy. I have definitely had my eyes opened by this experience.  

The Actors include:

·         Heather Anholt-Ensemble

·         Jen Boettger- Beggar Woman

·         Aaron Brewer- Anthony

·         Jay Burken- Pirelli

·         Michael Cervantes- Judge Turpin

·         Tiffany DeBow- Ensemble

·         Bryant Duffy- Ensemble

·         Ben Fashimpaur- Ensemble

·         Eric Dean Freese- Mr. Fogg/Ensemble

·         Alex Gassman- Ensemble

·         Lincoln Ginsberg- Tobias

·         Genevieve Heinrich- Ensemble

·         Tracie Hodina- Ensemble

·         Daniel D. Kelchen- Sweeney Todd

·         Brian Middleswarth- Ensemble

·         Emily Nelson- Ensemble

·         Piper Pack-Smith- Mrs. Lovett

·         Elizabeth Simon- Johanna

·         Greg Smith- Ensemble

·         Nick Williams- Beadle