By Colleen Pierson
WKTV Contributor
“Sweeney Todd” is a Sondheim Masterpiece. It is a highly challenging project that is haunting, powerful and thrilling. Go see Circle Theatre’s production running now through September 23.
In my opinion, I have never heard some of the most beautiful voices in community theater on one stage. Ever. It is not one to miss.
Let’s set the scene: An infamous tale, “Sweeney Todd,” (played by Cory Schutter) an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge (Nate Reynolds) who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, (Emily Diener) a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice with the closest shave in town. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of a special ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up and dying for. The carnage has only just begun!
The musical first appeared on Broadway in 1979 and was categorized by Sondheim as a “dark operetta.” That means a huge percentage of the score — probably about 80 percent — and storytelling is sung throughout.
And where does one find the voices in West Michigan to handle this challenging music that needs a very highly skilled cast?
Kudos to directors Carrie McNulty and Scott Patrick Bell for doing just that. There is not one ordinary voice onstage. All are extraordinary. No weak links. Each and every role is gorgeously sung in perfect characterization. The cast members are worthy of being in the Broadway talent pool. Sure, I am gushing, but the range of voices and challenges of the music leads to such a theatrical and glorious treat to experience by an immensely talented cast. A definite treat for the ears.
Cory Schutter: “much variety and intensity … and impeccable singing”
Cory Schutter, taking on the role of Sweeney Todd, does so in a vicious, desperate and intimidating manner. At the same time, he was both vulnerable and volatile. There was much variety and intensity in his performance and he sang impeccably.
A “wow factor” in Emily Diener’s voice
Emily Diener portrays Mrs. Lovett with such delightful charm, charisma and humor. She mastered the craft with her comedic timing. Such a wow factor in her voice with so many challenging songs to portray.
Sweeney Todd’s daughter Johanna, played by Maddie Vanderwell, has an angelic voice. A soprano voice with a beautiful lightness and wonder that perfectly matched her innocence. I was in awe of her talents. She dueted so effectively with young sailor Anthony Hope played by Alex Weiss.
It is very difficult to find a young boy with a soprano range to take on the role of Tobias Ragg. Directors gave the role to Meaghan Gietzen, who proved extremely believable with great depth to portray this important role. Witnessing her descent into madness was chilling.
I appreciated being in an intimate theater setting that Circle Theatre provides on Aquinas College’s campus. Being up close and personal to hear every piece of sung and spoken dialect, experience the lighting design of Catherine Marlett Dreher and see the costume details provided by costume designer Jess Luiz was captivating. The staging of when Todd kills his clients and then sends their bodies directly through a chute into the pie shop’s bakehouse was always done effectively. Perfectly timed out.
Sometimes the actors were blocked to use the aisles of the theater to come onstage and then they got very close to us through inventive direction — making it feel so intimate and intense.
It was a challenge brilliantly handled by cast and crew of the final production of the season. Go see “Sweeney Todd.” For more info: circletheatre.org.
