By Holly Gould
American Fork Community Theater kicks off spooky season with a chilling tale of love, murder, and revenge with their production of Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Valentine Theater in American Fork. This dark musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler opened on Broadway in 1979and won many awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical.
Returning to London after being wrongfully imprisoned, Sweeney Todd (Jim Dale) sets out to get revenge on the corrupt Judge Turpin (Stanley Johnson) who stole his wife and took over as ward for his daughter Joanna (Isabella Hixson). Assisted in his scheming by the looney shopkeeper Mrs. Lovitt (Amanda Dawn Toronto), Todd quickly sets in motion a grotesque and bloody plan.
Dale gives a very convincing performance as Sweeney Todd with a dark and brooding presence onstage. He brings much depth to the character, showing many years of emotion built from heart-breaking loss that culminate in a fiery rage that demands justice from those who have wronged him. His voice gives the audience maturity and emotional range throughout the evening.
Toronto’s portrayal of Mrs. Lovitt is so much fun. The audience sees talent and dexterous skills in her vocal range more than any other character in the show. Comedic timing is quick, and she brings lots of laughter to a very dark show. While her character is lacking morally, attendees seem glimpses of a sweet woman who longs for success and has a desire for a simple life filled with love to share. There is a fun and playful chemistry between Lovitt and Todd that is very entertaining while performing the numbers “A Little Priest” and “By the Sea.”
Hixson gives a sweet and gentle performance as Joanna, and she meshes well with Sawyer Griffin’s Anthony, her brave suitor, as her bright soprano voice adds beautiful harmonies to Griffin’s quick and clear vocals, which grow confidently bold and powerful as he serenades his sweet “Joanna.”
Griffin’s character adds a much-needed spark of goodness and hope to the heavy storyline as rescuer to both Todd and Joanna. His vocal skill is consistently skillful with beautiful tone.
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A surprising standout performance of the night comes from Ethan Freestone as Tobias. This young actor’s command of the stage is commendable and draws close attention as he energetically wins over the crowd as the fraudulent and flamboyant Pirelli’s (Evan Meigs) assistant. His vocal talent is showcased well while singing “Not While I’m Around” with emotion and heart, and his descent into madness is very believable and justified.
Another compelling performance is given by Tia Trimble, who is captivating as the beggar woman. As a first-time viewer of the show, I felt strangely drawn to this character and I wasn’t sure why. Trimble shows consistent craziness with lots of physicality in her character, and vocals laden with heavy emotion. Clues through the show lead us to a surprising connection that satisfied my curiosities.
The tight-knit ensemble works well together. With a strong choral presence, they narrate the story with precise vocals. Beautiful, yet sometimes difficult harmonies give audience members chills as they outline the plot. Whether it’s during the outrageous party atmosphere of “God, That’s Good!” or the dramatic turn of “City on Fire,” ensemble numbers are consistently crowd-pleasing.
So muc/h of a show’s success is due to incredibly talented production staff. Director Colleen Carrasco, along with Assistant Director and Music Director Chip Brown, leads an amazing team. Michael Carrasco designed a beautiful set that transitions well from scene to scene. Visually-pleasing pieces of the set include the barber chair/slide and the large oven in the bakery. The lighting by Liz Griffiths and sound by Jason Young give the audience a spooky, eerie vibe to start the show, and set the mood changes throughout. Miranda Maurin’s costumes are rich and dramatic, with colors that match the mood of the music and characters and show lovely movement during the beautiful choreography by Nikole Tobian.
American Fork Community Theater’s Sweeney Todd is a bloody story of love, revenge, and loss that will certainly fill any need for a dark and spooky night during Halloween time. This show is intended for mature audiences, and parental discretion is strongly advised. I feel like older teens would enjoy the creepy elements of the show. If you are looking to add some terror to your Trick-or-Treating, make your way to the Valentine Theater in American Fork for a night of thrills and chills that you won’t soon forget.
American Fork Community Theater & Timpanogos Arts Foundation Present Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street; Book by Hugh Wheeler, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Valentine Theater, 839 East 9th North, American Fork, Utah, 84003
October 15-29, 2021, 7:30 PM, Matinee Saturday, October 23, 20 at 2:00 PM
Tickets: $10-15
www.afctshows.com
American Fork Community Theater Facebook Page
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