BY TERESA MALLAM
Special to the News
The beautiful and brilliant musical score (Stephen Sondheim) is said to be key to the success of any production of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
And the music with its clever lyrics was rendered breathtakingly beautiful in the hands of conductor and musical director Michael Hall and the Prince George Symphony Orchestra.
The maestro and the PGSO musicians must have felt the love in the room Friday at Vanier Hall when wild applause erupted as Hall briefly swapped his “regular” role for a surprise character appearance.
Indeed, this is a production full of surprises and it pays to watch the action on stage left and right as well as centre because there is so much going on.
Judy Russell Presents performers were at their best opening night Friday and the pace on stage was fast, almost dizzying. I can just imagine the very rigorous, but fun, rehearsals.
Kathy Pereira is well cast as mastermind, meat pie maker Mrs. Lovett. She carries the high notes and hilarity with ease. Pereira is a “seasoned” actor, a vocal, stage and comedic talent who had theater patrons eating out of her hand.
Triple threat charmer Chase Warmerdam, as scoundrel Topbias Ragg, is a study in seamless stage movement. An absolute delight to watch, Warmerdam, 17, is a “natural” who, no doubt, is destined to be a star in the highly competitive world of arts and entertainment.
Bradley Charles is fantastic as Adollo Pirelli. He was a crowd favorite with a clever command of accents.
I loved David Leach in the title role of Excalibur Theatre Arts Company’s 2008 production of Sweeney Todd — complete with trap doors for dispensing with hapless victims. And I loved him again in this Judy Russell production.
Leach is so very good at being bad, and with his major acting and singing chops, he’s quite adept at stealing the show. This time, however, Leach had to “play nice” (not easy when portraying a villain) given so much talent on board including PGSO musicians and top notch cast and crew.
Kudos to the ensemble cast. Great singing, great dancing, great energy. Also to wardrobe wizards, Heather McGowan, Katie Faucher, Stephanie Derksen who did a great job with costumes to recreate a bustling London, England long ago.
For this latest production, tech director and audio/visual designer Jon Russell created a sensational series of backdrops: picturesque street scenes, the barbershop, Mrs. Lovett’s and even starry skies.
The background and stage lighting changes colour: red, purple, black, white. Solemn to salacious, happy to sad, love to hate, expert lighting effectively sets the mood.
And it all works seamlessly with a stunning stage design by Bill Russell to help unfold the gruesome — but filled with humour — story (author Hugh Wheeler) about a wrongfully imprisoned barber who is hell bent on revenge, and becomes the murderous Mr. Todd.
Over the years, I’ve watched Shelby Meaney (Johanna) become a true artist. Gifted with a beautiful voice and dancing ability, she gives a heartwarming performance in Sweeney Todd. Curtis Abriel, a fine musician, aces his role as Anthony Hope, (Joanna’s suitor.)
Jim Anderson is good as Judge Turpin for many reasons but he actually looks the part as well as acts it. One of my favorite performances though was Zarrah Holvick’s take on the Beggar Woman.
She has timing skills, physicality, a wonderful singing voice, flair for comedy and she plays naughty very nicely. A perfect foil for Leach’s character. The storyline tragic twist at the end involving these two is what we call in the biz “poetic justice.”
In the glossy brochure, Russell says of the novel approach to having the orchestra on stage with the actors: “I think it works.”
That is an understatement. For me, it’s flat out genius, not to mention challenging to have the PGSO and Judy Russell Presents people in close quarters. And it’s a perfect fit for the chosen venue, Vanier Hall.
And there’s lots of room for laughter. Some of it in cameo appearances by a makeshift mortician with a dolly for the dead and stage hand efficiency.
When show producer/directorJudy Russell and musical director Robin Norman took a quick bow on stage for curtain call, there was loud clapping from the audience. This, an apparent tribute to a well loved dynamic duo.
Two innovative, dedicated and creative women who together are a force of nature.