By Madison Moretti
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street has brought a new level of dark and sinister to On Pitch Performing Arts in Layton, Utah. This Stephen Sondheim masterpiece is known and loved widely, and first premiered in 1979 on Broadway. Since its opening, it has gone on to win three Tony awards and three Olivier awards, the most recent of which was in 2012. This haunting story follows Sweeney Todd (Jason Campbell) a scorned barber seeking revenge for his 15 years of wrongful imprisonment and subsequent abuse of his wife and daughter at the hands of a corrupt judge. Paired with eccentric pie maker Mrs. Lovett (Dawn Allen), Sweeney carries out his own version of justice on the immoral men of London.
This production, brought to life by the creative team of director Dan Tate and musical director Campbell, is incredibly unique in its staging. By forgoing sets, props, and complex costuming and instead utilizing Brayden Weidman’s talents in lighting design, Tate strips the show down to its most basic elements and allows the audience to immerse themselves in the stunning score. By putting on a show as bare bones as this one, the actors are given a unique opportunity to push and test the bounds of their own abilities to tell a story. I was thoroughly impressed by how flexible the ensemble is and how they are able to work with the bare minimum to make a big impact. One of my favorite moments of the show was the opening number, “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd”, which features the ensemble members. It is a chilling opening that perfectly sets the stage for the rest of the show.
Sweeney Todd features a beautiful score and is executed masterfully by Campbell, not only as the musical director but as the titular character himself. Campbell performs the role with captivating intensity alongside his equally talented co-star Allen as Mrs. Lovett. The pair have excellent chemistry and I particularly enjoyed their performance of “A Little Priest” at the end of the first act.
Not to be overlooked are Ben Cortez and Amberly York as Anthony and Johanna. York has a beautiful voice well-suited to the role and is especially captivating in “Green Finch and Linnet Bird”, and truly captures the essence of the ingenue. Likewise, Cortez is a bright spot in his role and enjoyable to listen to as the lovesick young hero in “Johanna”.
Other notable moments of the show include Jessica Shearer’s Beadle and Asa Nielson’s Judge Turpin in their respective and subtly sinister roles, and Sean Marshall’s timid and sweet performance of Tobias.
All of the actors in this show are to be commended for their ability to tell this story in such a raw and intimate way. Personally, I loved the style in which this production is done, as it allowed me to focus more on the music and the characters themselves. This production of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, now running at Layton’s On Pitch Performing Arts, is a haunting and captivating experience. This show has a limited run, now through November 9th, so don’t miss it. This show features dark and violent themes that may be unsuitable for younger audiences.
On Pitch Performing Arts Presents Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Music by Stephen Sondheim, and Book by Hugh Wheeler.
On Pitch Performing Arts, 587 N Main Street, Layton, UT 84041
October 31 – November 9, 2019
Tickets: $15
Contact: 385-209-1557
On Pitch Performing Arts Facebook Page
Sweeney Todd Facebook Event
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