(Jason Ralph in the
title role & Charon Williams-Ros as Mrs Lovett)
KickstArt’s most challenging production to date opens for
previews tonight at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.
Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical thriller Sweeney Todd follows KickstArt’s top
class presentation of another dark and smouldering musical, Cabaret.
A regular penny-dreadful, this musical noir thriller by
contemporary American musical-theatrical genius, Stephen Sondheim, features one
of the greatest musical theatre scores ever written. It tells the bizarre tale
of the outlandish urban legend of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet
Street, who famously murdered his clients in his barber’s chair, after which
his whacky neighbour, and partner-in-crime, Mrs Lovett, turned them into much
sough-after meat-pies.
Sweeney Todd looks
at what drives a man to this sort of extreme and considers what tragedy lies in
his dark and mysterious past. This gripping, often hilarious, musical features
such classic songs as Pretty Women; Johanna;
Not While I’m Around; By the Sea and A
Little Priest.
Sweeney Todd won
both the Tony Award and the Olivier Award when it was first produced in 1979,
and is now also a major motion picture by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp,
Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen delicious as the sly
fop Pirelli.
This KickstArt production stars Johannesburg musical theatre
star, Jason Ralph in the title role, and local favourite, Charon Williams-Ros
as Mrs. Lovett. Others in the cast include Lyle Buxton as the strapping young
sailor, Anthony, and sweet-voiced Johannesburg soprano, Sanli Jooste, as his
beloved Johanna. Bryan Hiles plays the simpleton, Tobias, well-loved Durban
bass, Richard Salmon returns to the stage as the evil Judge Turpin, Danilo
Antonelli (currently on scholarship at Regent’s College, London) makes a
flamboyant Pirelli, Katy Moore plays the enigmatic Beggar Woman and Darren King
the odious Beadle.
What promises to be a major theatrical event will be
directed by Steven Stead, with set designs by Greg King, and costumes designs
by Neil Stuart Harris. Musical direction by Shelley McLean and Justin Southey. Lighting
is by Tina le Roux.
Sweeney Todd runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from
August 8 to 24. Booking is through Computicket. For block bookings of 10 or
more, or sold performances and early bird specials, contact Ailsa Windsor of
Going Places: 0832502690 or editor.goingplacessa@gmail..com.
It is recommended that no U15s see this production.
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