Avon Players opens their 78th season with a powerful production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street running through September 21, 2024, in Rochester Hills, MI.
We all know the old proverb, ‘Revenge is a dish best-served cold.’ Well, in Sweeney Todd, it’s the house special.
This musical originated in 1979, with music and lyrics by the legendary Stephen Sondheim (Company, Into the Woods) and book by Hugh Wheeler.
Set in Victorian London, the opening number “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” sets the tone for the show with the ensemble (Katelyn Brackney, Matt Cason, Leah Frazier, Olivia Langsdorf, Mariah Lieckfelt, Andy Livernois, Jeffery Monterosso, Pamela Plewa, Lori Smith, Tagg Smith, Logan Synnestvedt, and Adam Wager) serve as Todd’s personal Greek chorus.
Upon arriving a young sailor Anthony Hope (Nicholas Kwiecinski) learns his traveling companion, Benjamin Barker, was wrongly convicted 15 years earlier and sent to Australia by the corrupt Judge Turpin (Steve Grady) and his servant Beadle Bamford (RJ Miller-Zelinko in his Avon Players’ debut). Barker returns with malice in his heart and reinvents himself as Sweeney Todd (Mario Simone in his Avon Players’ debut) to begin his morally complex journey to avenge his losses. Simone has a commanding presence as Sweeney Todd, which he pairs with a magnificent voice. Todd is a man who is haunted. He’s been wronged and Simone expertly wears every inch of his anger from beginning to end.
Joining Todd on his journey is the zany and shrewd Mrs. Lovett (Joy Oetjens), a widowed meat pie maker whose business has seen better days. Todd enquires about the space above her shop and Lovett shares the sad story of the wrongly-accused barber, his wife who was driven crazy, and the daughter, now the ward of the architect of it all – Judge Turpin (“Poor Thing”). Oetjens can make a meal out of whatever part she’s given, and she is exceptional in this role. Considering it originated on Broadway by Dame Angela Lansbury, that’s quite a compliment.
Paralleling this revenge story is a budding romance between Hope and Johanna (Maia Fetter). Fetter’s voice is well suited for the complex operatic musical score, and her performance is filled with beauty and elegance (“Green Finch and Linnet Bird”). Sweeney Todd also contains moments of levity as seen in the songs “Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir” and “Pirelli’s Entrance.” Adam Wager is hysterical as the over-the-top Italian con artist Aldofo Pirelli and Jack Stoll (in his Avon Players’ debut) gives an extraordinary performance as Pirelli’s young assistant, Tobias Ragg. Just a senior in high school, Stoll takes to the stage as if it’s his second home and holds his own opposite the Avon Players veterans. Especially, during his bittersweet duet with Mrs. Lovett (“Not While I’m Around”) in the second act.
As Todd’s lust for revenge against Turpin and others he considers wicked continues to fester, he and Lovett concoct a plan that meets both their needs. Under the guise of his barber business, he will rid London of the wicked who deserve to die, and Mrs. Lovett will have fresh meat for her pies (“Epiphany”; “A Little Priest”).
The second act shows how Mrs. Lovett and Todd’s fortunes have improved, but is it enough for both to be happy? Throughout the show, a beggar woman (Tracy Murray) appears, but no one listens to her or pays her heed and by the time they do, it’s too late. Her character highlights the fact that revenge can leave a bitter aftertaste. Even though you get what you want, in the end it may not be enough to satiate your appetite.
Sweeney Todd encompasses many themes. It is a story of family, love, reputation, and revenge. Todd is equally the protagonist and the anti-hero. We understand why he’s seeking revenge and can even see the justification for his murderous intent, which helps soothe our conscience regarding the manner he goes about it. This is a show that pulls you into a world of moral ambiguity. It’s dark. It’s funny. It pushes boundaries and buttons.
There is not one weak link in this cast. From the ensemble to the main characters, they all bring passion and authenticity to their roles. The music is not easy to sing (this is Sondheim, after all) and it requires the cast to do many sequences of vocal gymnastics in over 30 songs.
Sweeney Todd proves that the path to revenge is bloody, but Avon Players does the material justice, which makes this production deliciously fun to watch. In terms of scale, talent, and production value, Sweeney Todd rivals their 2018 production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Most companies would wait until the end of the season to stage a musical like Sweeney Todd, but Avon Players took a gamble by putting it at the beginning and it paid off. The audience’s thunderous ovation was proof of that.
This was a strong opening night; setting the bar for the rest of the season. I don’t envy those working on the remaining plays. All I can say is you better bring your “A” game because Sweeney Todd will be hard to top.
This performance runs over two hours with a 15-minute intermission.
Sweeney Todd is directed by John (JD) Deierlein with Ryan Moore as the associate director. Patrick Jordan serves as producer. Costumes and lighting design is by John (JD) Deierlein with Sharon Jourdan on properties and Kevin Miller as set designer/master carpenter. Hair and makeup design is by Lana Brusokas-Hastings and Kelly Miller, along with wig design by Lisa Miller. Nick Kibler serves as sound designer and Tim Schoenherr as music director/conductor along with Ron Pietrantoni as associate music director. Choreography is by Maritoni Harte.
Tickets for all shows are $32. Call 248-608-9077 for tickets or order online at www.AvonPlayers.org. Discounts on matinee tickets are available for seniors and students; call the box office for details. Additionally, group rates are available by calling the box office. “Like” Avon Players Theatre on Facebook for special offers on tickets. All major credit cards are accepted. All seats are reserved.
Reserve a seat to see one of these remaining performances:
- Saturday, September 7 at 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday, September 8 at 2:00 p.m.
- Friday, September 13 at 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, September 14 at 8:00 p.m.
- Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 p.m.
- Friday, September 20 at 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, September 21 at 8:00 p.m.
About Sarah Hovis