What’s better then grabbing a Kir Royale (or two) and a Croque Monsieur in Greenwich Village prior to a matinee performance of Sweeney Todd? Nothing. Probably my favorite musical, I’ve seen the original (on video), the 1989 and 2005 Broadway revivals and now this off-Broadway incarnation three times. This visit was expressly to see a friend, Liz Pearce, understudy the role of Mrs. Lovett.
My favorite version of this show still belongs to John Doyle’s 2005 revival starring Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone with Lauren Molina’s super fragile Johanna. I went back a second time with my daughter because it was not to be missed. A stripped down staging and orchestration with the actors playing the instruments, we were treated to an intimacy to Stephen Sondheim’s music and lyrics that added even more dimensions (and levels of appreciation) to an already classic musical. In the current version, the Barrow Street Theater is reconfigured into an actual pie shop, where you can actually have a pie before the show. It’s intimate, a little claustrophobic, in your face and abundantly entertaining.
The cast is changing again this month but I’ve seen both the British pair who brought this version from London as Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett (Jeremy Secomb, Siobhan McCarthy) and also Norm Lewis and Carolee Carmello. In supporting roles, I loved Alex Finke as Johanna and Matt Doyle’s Anthony and Jamie Jackson’s Judge Turpin were the best I’ve ever seen. And another Mrs. Lovett! Ms. Pearce gave a terrific performance, nailing the humor. Norm Lewis’ Sweeney was even darker than I remembered. Riveting stuff.
If you can, go seen this. If you’ve never seen it, even better. As Sweeney Todd continues to be restaged, reimagined and recast, this macabre masterpiece defines great theater. More hot pies !