The demon barber of Fleet Street comes to Guelph
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street comes to Guelph this week as Curtain Call Productions’ (CCP) annual winter show. With a cast and crew of over 40 students, this production of Sweeney Todd is directed by Helen Victoria Toner, a fourth year animal biology and theatre student who wished to take the musical back to its gritty origins.
“I wanted to give it the edgier look that I feel it often loses. Often, it’s done by older adults and it loses some of its appeal to younger audiences. So I wanted to add in the fast pace, revamp it, youth-inize it,” said Toner.
The 2007 film directed by Tim Burton had a $50 million budget, but CCP does not have that same luxury. Luckily, Toner was given the creative freedom to focus on the plotline, following a barber who’s driven mad when the cruel Judge Turpin exiles him, drives his wife to suicide, and takes custody of his infant daughter. The film focuses on Sweeney Todd’s deranged quest to kill Judge Turpin, but the musical expands the focus to Anthony, a young sailor who falls in love with Todd’s daughter, Johanna, and Turpin himself. The plot follows the same timeline, but adds some much-needed context to scenes to create a well-rounded play. [trx_slider engine=”swiper” custom=”yes” count=”3″ offset=”0″ orderby=”date” order=”desc” controls=”yes” pagination=”no” titles=”no” descriptions=”0″ links=”yes” crop=”yes” autoheight=”yes” slides_per_view=”1″ slides_space=”0″ interval=”5000″ top=”inherit” bottom=”inherit” left=”inherit” right=”inherit”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd22_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd21_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd19_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd18_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd17_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd15_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd14_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd13_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd20_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd16_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [/trx_slider]
Sweeney Todd highlights the skills of each crew. The sets crew created an intricate barber’s chair that can be tilted forward, throwing Todd’s victims down a trap door into the basement. The lighting and sound complement each other nicely to create a bloody red screen and scream that made each kill seem like Todd was falling further into madness. Costumes and makeup establish the grim nineteenth-century setting while the props crew opts for realism, with the characters eating real meat pies on stage.“Overall, I like to build stuff as a team. I like to brainstorm ideas with my designers and with my cast, and inspire them to come up with their own ideas. Then my role is to funnel their ideas so that it all makes one cohesive image. In that way, I end up changing my vision along the way based on what their ideas are,” said Toner.
Bryndyn Boonstra’s portrayal of Sweeney Todd captures a fixated, moody character with one goal and an unstoppable driving anger to get there. Boonstra was not afraid to raise his grizzly voice to show Todd’s frustrations. Judge Turpin, who battles Anthony for Johanna’s love, is played by Elijah Glasgow, who convincingly depicts the judge’s mental deterioration, especially in the scene where he falls in love with Johanna. This scene is removed from the film, but gives a much-needed explanation for why Turpin decides to marry her.
Alex Nunez plays the Beggar Woman, an old and simple woman who offers sex to those who get too close. Nunez perfects the immediate shift from frail, pitiful old woman to aggressive peddler. With quick shuffling steps and a flailing dress, she provided humorous breaks amidst rather serious scenes.[trx_slider engine=”swiper” custom=”yes” count=”3″ offset=”0″ orderby=”date” order=”desc” controls=”yes” pagination=”no” titles=”no” descriptions=”0″ links=”yes” crop=”yes” autoheight=”yes” slides_per_view=”1″ slides_space=”0″ interval=”5000″ top=”inherit” bottom=”inherit” left=”inherit” right=”inherit”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd11_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd10_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd09_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd08_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd07_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd06_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd05_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd04_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd03_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [trx_slider_item src=”https://www.theontarion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sweeneytodd01_danabellamyRGB.jpg”] [/trx_slider]
Other notable moments include Emma Vanderkuyl, in the role of Johanna, singing “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” and hitting each soaring note. Vanderkuyl does not shy away from the highest notes of the song and is still able to enunciate and make the meaning clear. Additionally, Michael Sharivker, playing the ridiculous rival barber, Pirelli, adds a sense of humour to the show that is excessive but appropriate for the character — and he does a spectacular Irish accent.
Diana DelRosario dominates each scene she’s in in a sensational performance as Todd’s accomplice, the pie maker Mrs. Lovett, with a face full of attitude and an accent that never wavers. DelRosario’s opening song, “Worst Pies in London,” shows off her vocals.
Bianca Low Kum, co-executive producer of the show and fifth year psychology and philosophy student, told The Ontarion about her focus leading up to opening night: “I just make sure, overall, that everything’s going to be okay.” The show is more than okay — it’s bloody wonderful.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street plays at War Memorial Hall March 14 to 17.
Photo by Dana Bellamy