When Vincenzo Meduri, artistic director of Enlightened Theatrics, began to construct his vision for a production of Sweeney Todd, he decided that “something that was really important is to honor what [the composer] Sondheim and the original director Hal Prince had done. They made it very much in the melodrama sense… the way that the penny dreadfuls and 18th century Victorian England was.” With the help of clever technical design and a cast that perfectly embodies the characters they play, Meduri has met and even surpassed that goal. The production takes full advantage of both the horrific and humorous elements of the ‘demon barber’s’ story, creating an environment that leaves you laughing on the edge of your seat.
One of the focal points in the show is the rotating set, which is two stories high and symmetrical, with one side representing the barbershop/restaurant combination owned by the main characters, and the other the house of the antagonist, Judge Turpin. The fact that the sides are nearly identical to each other (except for a few differences in the furniture) add another layer to the story, subtly highlighting similarities between the characters. The set also included a real-life, but actor-safe, version of Sweeney’s famous body slide, which was unexpected and greatly appreciated.
Also technically stunning is the show’s lighting design. When the ensemble stands at the front of the stage- which they frequently do- red lights placed underneath them light up, with the same effect as putting a flashlight under your chin while telling a ghost story. The color and angle, combined with Sondheim’s signature musical chaos, brings out the horror elements of the story in striking detail.
“It’s delightfully creepy,” Cait Blair ‘20 said.
Nowhere is the macabre tone of the show better embodied, however, than in the work of the actors. The ensemble creates a cast of characters that are both hilarious and unsettling, often at the same time. Their work as the chorus gives every scene an extra layer of Victorian atmosphere, and their interludes throughout the play are a chillingly good example of musical storytelling. Also among the cast was actress Margo Schembre, who played Sweeney’s accomplice, Mrs. Lovett. Schembre approached her performance of the role with an incredible amount of insight and study. Her deep understanding of such a multi-faceted character shows in both her humor and her sociopathic tendencies. Both Schembre and Meduri clearly put a lot of thought into the role, subtly putting her in a position of greater power and evil than Sweeney Todd, which works very well with the script. Enlightened Theatrics’ production of Sweeney Todd embodies both the ambiance of Victorian horror and the benefits of modern set and lighting technology. It is showing at the Grand Theater through November 4th at 7:30 p.m., and is well worth taking the time to see.
