Sweeney Todd

 Sweeney Todd
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
September 14, 2023 

Photo courtesy of Sweeney Todd

The Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd is phenomenal.  Director Thomas Kail creates a truly eerie atmosphere for the telling of this tale.  Steven Hoggett’s choreography tilts everything off center and pushes the tension right up to the edge.  This production leaves you in awe of Stephen Sondheim’s score.  His ability to create tender moments, while building the action at a terrifying pace is brilliantly done.  The cast is intense.  They lock you in from the moment the show starts , and do not let you go for one second.

Sweeney Todd (played by understudy Nicholas Christopher) has returned to London after spending time in prison.  On the journey back, he befriends a young sailor, Anthony (played by Daniel Yearwood).  Sweeney starts to tell Anthony about his past, but stops as the memories overwhelms him.  When Sweeney enters Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop on Fleet Steet, Mrs. Lovett (played by Annaleigh Ashford) recognizes him as Benjamin Barker, the barber who had his shop above her store.  He confesses to her that he has returned to London to seek revenge on Judge Turpin (played by Jamie Jackson) for the harm he caused his wife.  Mrs. Lovett partners with Sweeney on his journey of revenge, not knowing what lies ahead, but very willing and able to lead the way. 

Annaleigh Ashford as Mr. Lovett
Photo courtesy of Sweeney Todd

Annaleigh Ashford makes the role of Mrs. Lovett her own.  She makes full use of her comic ability to mask the character’s manipulative and sinister core.  She exudes a demonic charm, developing a unique dichotomy for the character.  Nicholas Christopher is commanding as Sweeney Todd.  He is vocally powerful and dramatically captivating.  You root for him no matter how malicious his actions, and feel genuine satisfaction when he succeeds in avenging his wife.

Photo courtesy of Sweeney Todd

Gaten Matarazzo is excellent as Tobias, the assistant to Pirelli who becomes Mrs. Lovett’s helper when her business start to boom.  He and Ms. Ashford develop a very strong relationship.  “Not While I’m Around” is a truthful bonding moment between the characters.  Understudy Jeanna de Waal is spooky and ghostlike as the Beggar Woman.  She emerges from the darkness with her hair covering her face, yet your eyes go right to her when she starts to sing.  Daniel Yearwood and Maria Bilbao have a genuine connection as Anthony and Johanna, Sweeney’s daughter and ward of Judge Turpin.  Ms. Bilbao plays Johanna’s entrapment with palpable nervousness.  As the relationship between her and Anthony builds, this nervousness transforms into an eager yearning.         

This production is a MUST SEE, no matter who is in the lead roles.  The cast is a passionate and skillful ensemble, all committed to creating and delivering a spine-chilling and impactful experience.  Sweeney Todd is playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.  Go see it!    

Domenick Danza

Daphne’s Dive

Daphne’s Dive

Signature Theatre

The Pershing Square Signature Center

April 28, 2016

Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre

Daphne’s Dive is Quiara Alegria Hudes’ impactful play now running at Signature Theatre.  It is about much more than the North Philadelphia dive bar in which it takes place.  It’s about Daphne’s willingness to dive into life when all the odds are against her.  It’s about the bonding and journey of seven characters over the stretch of about eighteen years.  It is realistic, gritty, and edgy.

When the FBI raids the apartment above Daphne’s Dive, they inadvertently leave behind an eleven year old girl, Ruby (played by Samira Wiley).  She is adopted by Daphne (played by Vanessa Aspillaga) and is pretty much raised in the bar.  She is influenced by Daphne’s regulars: Pablo (played by Matt Saldivar), an artist who uses garbage and discarded items as his medium and inspiration; Rey (played by Gordon Joseph Weiss), an aging biker; Jenn (played by KK Moggie), a free-spirited, rebel with a messiah complex; Daphne’s sister, Inez (played by Daphne Rubin-Vega); and her husband Acosta (played by Carlos Gomez), a local businessman and community activist.  A heated argument occurs between Jenn and Acosta the night he is elected to Congress.  This initial crack in the foundation of the group’s connection causes more harm than anyone of them presumes.

Daphne Rubin-Vega, Vanessa Aspillaga,
& Samira Wiley in rehearsal
Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre

The script has some very powerful moments, which the cast delivers honestly.  They are a tight ensemble authentically portraying strong characters with clear, specific objectives.  Under the direction of Thomas Kail, they bring the play to an emotional climax and poignant conclusion.

“Signature Theatre exists to honor and celebrate the playwright.”  This production does just that for the unique, distinct voice of Quiara Algeria Hudes.  Daphne’s Dive runs at the Pershing Square Signature Center through June 12.

Domenick Danza