Theater Review: 'Sweeney Todd' at Downtown Cabaret Theatre

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

Downtown Cabaret has brought Stephen Sondheim’s spooky musical thriller “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” to its stage with a stellar cast. Performances continue through Oct. 13 at the theater on Golden Hill St. in Bridgeport.

The 1979 Tony Award winning musical features a book by Hugh Wheeler from an adaptation by Christopher Bond. The strong Downtown Cabaret production is directed by Bradford Blake, with music direction by Mark Ceppetelli, who is also credited with musical arrangement. This is a production with a strong vision, beginning from the opening notes as the ensemble members enter under the cover of fabric with their movements strongly choreographed.

This is the classic twisted tale that is at the same time darkly funny. Sondheim himself believed that this “black operetta” is a story of revenge and how it consumes a vengeful person. He also thought that "what the show is really about is obsession".

The fabulous cast is led by Perry Liu in the title role of the morose demon barber previously known as Benjamin Barker. He enters up through a trapdoor and doesn’t miss a chance to be chilling. Liu’s singing voice is wonderfully suited for the role.

Priscilla Squiers is his perfect foil in the role of Mrs. Nellie Lovett. Not a single note or movement is wasted as she plays the amoral proprietress of a meat pie shop. Squiers has appeared as Fraulein Schneider in “Cabaret” and Donna in “Mamma Mia” on this stage, as well as a host of other important roles around the state, and she shines in this meaty role.

As Anthony Hope, Charles Romano (the Beast in Musical at Richter’s “Beauty and the Beast” this summer) displays the youthful exuberance of the suitor of the beautiful soprano Johanna, played by the lovely Maddy Flagg. She most recently originated the role of Lisette in “Quentin: A Roosevelt Musical.” Elias Levy makes his Downtown Cabaret debut in the role of the pompous con man Adolfo Pirelli.

Mark Feltch, who has previously taken on the role of Sweeney, is the creepy Judge Turpin.
Columbia University student Isabel Sonnabend plays the young Tobias Ragg in their Cabaret debut. John Michael Witney returns to this stage to play the dramatic role of Beadle Bamford. The theater’s Executive Assistant Carly Jurman does well as the mad Beggar Woman.

In the powerful ensemble are Barbara Disinti, Leanne Onofrio, Em Lubbers, Jessica Nivison, Caroline Digiulio, Carl Cannella, Samuel Bal, Kristopher De La Cruz, Ron St. John III and Chris Hetherington. Each and every performer is “on” every moment that they are on the stage, causing a scare to those brave enough to look.

The musicians in the band that tackle the melodies of Sondheim include the conductor on piano, Harry Sliewe on reeds and Phoebe Suzuki on violin, all seated on the stage.

David Kievit was the scenic designer of the stark and effective set that makes good use of the trap doors in the Cabaret stage and the top of the grand piano for props. A rolling staircase is also used for various settings. There are also some projections to set the scene, bloody ones for the killings. Lesley Neilson-Bowman designed the period costumes that enhance each of the performances, with a spectacular cape for Pirelli and a really bad wig for Toby. Johanna Jackson lit the stage to perfectly set the correct mood, with many breathtaking stage pictures, especially the letter writing scene. Sound design by Holly Rybnick was pulled off without a hitch.

There is only one weekend left to “attend the tale” before Mrs. Lovett stops making meat pies on the Downtown Cabaret stage and I highly recommend that you do so. The Cabaret is a historic performance venue for concerts, musicals, and children's theater presented in a unique "Bring Your Own Picnic" setting. Enjoy cabaret-style seating where you can bring your own food and drinks, including alcohol. The laid-back atmosphere is a great space in which to enjoy theater.