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Review:- "Sweeney Todd at
the Liverpool Empire Theatre..."
Review by
Jo
Forrest.
ON 13 November 2015, Sweeney Todd was
on at the Liverpool Empire Theatre and we popped over to take a look.
I have to admit I did approach this
show with some trepidation. I have never been to the opera so wasn't entirely
sure what to expect.
Playing to a packed audience at the lovely Empire Theatre in Liverpool, Sweeney
Todd by the Welsh National Opera did not disappoint and even though the show is
three hours long, it seemed to go past in a flash.
This version of the story is set in more modern times, the early 1980s and in a
greasy spoon cafe as opposed to a pie shop. The shows opens as the audience are
still wandering to take their seats, with the cast slowly wandering on to the
stage. The prologue is set in Mr Fogg's asylum in which the love interest
Johanna will eventually be consigned to. Johanna just happens to be Todd's
daughter as well.
We are then introduced to Todd who has returned to England after being sent away
to do time for Murder in Australia, Is looking for vengeance for a miscarriage
of justice. He meets Mrs Lovett who has a struggling cafe that sells the:-
"worst pies in London".. And from there we embark on a tale of
revenge and murder with the help of his sidekick Mrs Lovett. The outcome of
which are the famous tasty pies that they are all baked into and sold in her
cafe.
The set was quite simple with two boxes that transformed the stage in to the
barber shop and the home of the judge who took Johanna as a baby and has kept
her sheltered from everything in life. Her love interest appears just as the
judge decides he wants to marry her and thus has her committed when he realises
she is in love with someone else, Anthony.
Not a true opera but definitely more than a musical theatre. Sweeney Todd
delivers plenty of laughs as well as the more gruesome scenes. Mrs Lovett steals
the show with her one liners and I have to admit another favourite character of
mine was the beggar lady, who was hilarious.
The performances were superb, and the characters, humorous and likeable despite
their dark murderous sides. A great introduction to the world of opera for me.
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