Jackie Maxwell is saying Farewell to the Shaw Festival.   During her time at Shaw she staged several musicals including, Merrily We Roll Along, Gypsy, Sweet Charity, Cabaret and most notably this year’s Alice in Wonderland and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which she directed herself! A fitting way to end her 14 years as the Artistic Director who was responsible for making The Shaw more diverse in terms of colour and gender and let’s be honest, some of the best theatre in Canada.  Sweeney Todd is sheer brilliance from the beginning strains of the chorus to the musical climax at the end and it is the best musical production to ever be performed on the Festival Theatre stage.

What has always impressed me at the Shaw is their willingness to allow each Director and Set Designer the ability to interpret and breathe new life into old scripts.  When they are not doing that, they are working with the playwrites to give them a new adaptation.  Take last year’s La Divine, by French playwrite Michel Marc Bouchard, who worked together with Jackie herself to rewrite the play in English for its 2015 run.

This year’s Alice in Wonderland became a musical and had a score that was written expressly for the Shaw.  Going back to when Christopher Newton was the Artistic Director, Saint Joan was so compelling to me I saw it three times in one season.  It was  brilliant how they interpreted the classic stage play, a story that takes place in the 14^th century, by incorporating set designs that included a camouflage jeep and props from World War II, not to mention defunct computers.  The famous inquisition scene was staged with walls of video screens and gave even more intensity to St. Joan’s soliloquy.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is not new to the stage or the screen; it is perhaps one of the most widely performed plays in North America.  What makes it so wonderful to see is how we, the audience, route for the dark side.  Like the HBO series Dexter, where we all wanted to see the serial killer get away with it, we too want to see Sweeney Todd get his revenge.  

Returning from exile Benjamin Barker, a Barber who was falsely accused of murder by a local judge intent on stealing his beautiful wife, sets up shop on Fleet Street, a seedier side of London.  His new shop is located above a bakery known for its terrible meat pies.  The shop owner Mrs. Lovett recognizes Benjamin from years ago and tells him his wife has died and the beautiful baby daughter they shared has been taken and held captive by the same judge who banished him.  Barker then assumes the identity of Sweeney Todd and opens up a new shop to seek revenge from all those who have wronged him.

Mrs. Lovett, played by Corrine Coslo, is absolutely brilliant in the female lead.  Her likability is never challenged as she carries out the most unimaginable crime of cannibalism.  Her dedication, love and loyalty to Benjamin are quite touching, that is, when she’s not grinding unsuspecting constabulary and drifters into hamburger!

Benedict Campbell is equally good in the lead as Sweeney Todd aka Benjamin Barker, he is neither svelte nor handsome, however, his stellar acting ability and strong vocals bring a certain air of masculinity that translates his looks into that of a leading man.

The love struck Anthony Hope played by Jeff Irving delivers a strong performance as does his love interest, Joanna played by Kristi Frank.  These two young actors have fantastic voices and bright futures as they deliver some of the most powerful musical moments in the play.

The score, written by Steven Sondheim is not whimsical and light, it is dark and dynamic and emotes the story to perfection.  The orchestra led by Paul Sportelli is spotless in its delivery from the beginning chord to the climatic ending, the audience is always well aware of its existence in the pit, but it never overwhelms the performances on stage.

As for set design, it is not lavish, but does a great job of recreating the dark seedy side of Fleet Street.  The props too become stars of the show.  The famous razors, the delicious meat pies – that appear to be eaten in great quantities while the actors are singing – are quite clever.  The costuming is interesting in terms of design whereby some of the ensemble cast are wearing period costumes and some look like they just stumbled out of a local nightclub.

It is not too late to see Sweeney Todd!  The Shaw is running right through until October 16^th, there are daily deals on tickets by visiting their website www.shawfest.com

For anyone who “hates” musicals Sweeney Todd is the one that will change your mind!!

By Jenifer Cass

Slider Photo by David Cooper, Courtesty of The Shaw Festival,