Sweeney Todd

Rhode Island Stage Ensemble invites those with an appetite for revenge, kidnapping and cannibalism to feast upon its latest production of "Sweeney Todd," Stephen Sondheim's delightfully grisly musical about the notorious barber of Fleet Street and his culinary-inclined accomplice.

With book by Hugh Wheeler, Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" premiered on Broadway in 1979 and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Macabre film master Tim Burton directed the 2007 movie version starring Johnny Depp.

At the center of this unconventional musical thriller is Benjamin Barker, who returns home to mid-19th century London after serving 15 years in an Australian prison, determined to exact revenge upon the judge who wrongly sentenced him and held his wife prisoner, which drove her to suicide.

Under the alias Sweeney Todd (Robert Grady), Barker lets a room from pie maker Mrs. Lovett (Mahria Trepes) to run a barbershop where he murders his customers by slitting their throats. Their grinded remains then become the key ingredient in Lovett's meat pies.

Gordon Dell directs this dutiful production with impressive performances from the cast and a stalwart set design coupled with stylish, authentic costumes that effectively and hauntingly convey the squalor, disparity and gloom of these characters' lives.

Despite the sullen overtone, production numbers and highlights from the show are actually quite amusing and touching, including the cheeky "The Worst Pies in London" and the compassionate "Not While I'm Around." "Johanna" is a heartfelt ballad about a girl being held captive who happens to be Todd's daughter (Rachel Hanauer), sung beautifully by his young sailor friend, Anthony (David Read).

The unapologetically aloof Mrs. Lovett shows her romantic side by attempting to woo Todd with "By the Sea" and the gruesome duo make light of their wicked ways with the variety of meat pies to be served when they sing, "A Little Priest."

Grady is marvelous as Sweeney Todd, imposing and ornery with pronounced stage presence. Trepes has a wonderful voice and delivers a solid, colorful performance as Mrs. Lovett. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel the necessary chemistry between these two co-conspirators. Both flourish on their own, but they weren't as believable as partners-in-crime.

While Todd and Lovett are at the helm of the show, there is noteworthy talent among the supporting cast. As Johanna and Anthony, both Hanauer and Read sing extraordinarily well and the young couple's chemistry is unmistakable. Also worthy of mention is Iain Yarbrough, who portrays Lovett's helper, Tobias Ragg, with frivolity and poignancy.

Other performances worthy of mention include Preston Arnold as ruthless, heartless Judge Turpin; Leslie Nevola, chilling as the freakish Beggar Woman, and a deliciously droll Scott Berozi, who takes brazen ownership of the stage as Todd's rival, Adolfo Pirelli.

I've always felt the running time of "Sweeney Todd" is excessive, but this production might not have felt as lengthy were it not for the technical issues with sound and volume, which often made it difficult to appreciate the musical numbers. Provided those mishaps have since been resolved, RISE's "Sweeney Todd" is a bloody good time.

"Sweeney Todd" runs through October 22 at the Rhode Island Stage Ensemble Playhouse, 142 Clinton Street in Woonsocket. For information and tickets, visit www.ristage.org

Chris is a voracious reader and unapologetic theater geek from Narragansett, Rhode Island.

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