reviewvancouver: Sweeney Todd

I can’t imagine a better way to spend the weeks leading up to Halloween than taking in a performance of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This “barber”-ically gruesome tale plays out onstage at the intimate Jericho Arts Centre and tells of an exiled barber who returns home years after his exile, seeking revenge on the lecherous judge who falsely accused him.

Alex McMorran plays the title role, and it was thrilling watching his transformation from brooding barber to murderous madman. Chris Harvey (Anthony Hope) and Krista Gibbard (Johanna) were well-matched love interests, both in vocal talent and on-stage chemistry. The feisty Cathy Wilmot was the perfect choice as Mrs. Nellie Lovett, a pie maker who hopes to be more than just a landlady to Sweeney Todd, and Arne Larsen brought a well-delivered dash of humour to the delightfully unlikeable Judge Turpin.

Most of the singing was superb, but the most poignant and flawless number of the entire show was the touching duet between Wilmot and Jeremy Fornier-Hanlon (who played the young apprentice Tobias Ragg) called “Not While I’m Around”. My favourite scene was the hilarious “shave-off” featuring the comedic talents of the brilliant Eric Alexander Steel as Pirelli. The strong ensemble is what really brought this show together – the best moments were when the entire cast was onstage.

Fighting Chance Production was founded in 2007 by Artistic Director Ryan Mooney, as an opportunity for young theatre artists to gain valuable performance experience. The company’s website (www.fightingchanceproductions.ca) is worth checking out regularly, as it is frequently updated with entertaining anecdotes, contests, and pop-culture references relevant to their current season, such as a link to the popular television show “The Office” performing a song from Sweeney Todd.