Sweeney Todd (The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)

New Theatre’s latest offering is served up with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Audiences can expect a  delightful and thrilling tale with a tragic twist and a realistic glimpse of historical 1800s London hardship within its well-defined, tiered society.

Convict Sweeney Todd (played by award-winning Justin Cotta) goes on revengeful rampage of killings which are ingeniously covered up. When he returns and sets up a barber shop in his old stomping ground at 186 Fleet Street, London, it’s conveniently connected to Mrs. Lovett’s (Lucy Miller) pie shop – a familiar neighborhood filled with hatred, severed relationships, (and jugulars). The musical gives a shocking insight into the remorseless head of a serial killer.

The faultless live musical backing is thanks to a trio of piano/organ, cello and violin; and the cohesive 17-piece cast includes a chorus ensemble of eight. Lighting (Liam O’Keefe) and set design (Jo Jewitt) is simple in keeping with the austerity of the times and versatile as platforms are wheeled into varying formations to creatively accommodate a team vocal delivery that can be commended. (MS)

Until Dec 20, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, $17-32, newtheatre.org.au

 Written by Mel Somerville