This darkly humorous Stephen Sondheim masterpiece tells the tale of Sweeney Todd – a barber who is sent unjustly to the Botany Bay penal colony in Australia while his wife is raped by the evil Judge Turpin who sent Sweeney away. The story opens as Sweeney has made his way back to London with the help of Anthony Hope, a young sailor oblivious to the barber’s history. Sweeney is told by Mrs. Lovett, the meat pie maker who has the hots for him, that his wife has died and that their daughter is the secluded ward of Judge Turpin himself. Driving Sweeney even further towards the brink of insanity, he soon learns that Turpin is thinking of turning his ward into his wife. Let the killing begin!

Though it actually begins when Sweeney has to protect his past from a blackmailing rival. But what to do with the bothersome body? Mrs. Lovett has an entrepreneurial brainstorm! Sweeney can “shave” the undesirables out of London society and she can pack her meat pies with a filling far fresher than the stuff she’s been using. A business partnership made in hell…

This delectable musical treat is receiving a magnificent performance by Rising Stars – a youth theatre group that has risen up to do one of the best youth productions of the year. From the ensemble’s opening intro to the final exit of the two deranged lovebirds, both the macabre humor and the gripping tension are completely captivating, leaving you laughing your head off one moment and inadvertently shielding your neck the next.

It helps having two sensational leads for the all-important roles of the barber and baker. Gedaly Guberek is the mad and moody Sweeney so obsessed with revenge that he can only smile when he’s charming the judge before the shave, though he finds Mrs. Lovett’s meat pie plan rather amusing as well. Kelsey Henderson is simply a marvel to watch as the lovably creepy Mrs. Lovett, very reminiscent of the amazing Angela Lansbury who earned a Tony Award for this role. She finds clever and surprising humor throughout with various expressions, body language, and vocal inflections. Both use their eyes to tremendous effect. Their A Little Priest duet is a riot as they discuss the many possible flavors of meat pies, with each also shining in their solos like Sweeney’s enraged Epiphany and Mrs. Lovett’s charming By the Sea as she plots out their honeymoon itinerary.

The production boasts many strong supporting performances as well including Victoria Doroski as the vulgar Beggar Woman who always seems to be hanging about and singing with her lovely operatic voice, the latter a trait shared also by Kelly Derouin as the young, beautiful, and silly Johanna who is eager to escape the uncomfortable relationship with Judge Turpin for the eager arms of sailor Anthony Hope (Stephen Ravet). Those two share an amusing Kiss Me scene on the judge’s couch as Turpin is returning home. Speaking of which, Jesse Smith is the sleazy and overconfident Judge Turpin and Ryan Sandrew plays his sickly sadistic assistant Beadle Bamford who amusingly reveals a sensitive side when he sees a piano. Ryan Hunt is the far more sensitive Tobias Ragg, a naïve and slightly soft-minded young lad who comes to think Mrs. Lovett is the purest woman in the world, and beware anyone who would taint her. Adding a bit of comic relief, along with a bit of tension, is Kit Medina as the humbug Italian barber who thinks he can handle a razor as well as Sweeney Todd. That’s a battle you don’t want to lose.

Performs May 20 – 29, 2005.

Rob Hopper
San Diego Playbill