Sweeney Todd at the Gate

I saw my first performance at the Gate Theatre last night. It was an acclaimed production of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. It was bold and interesting. I was surprised to see Barry McGovern as the Judge. I was also surprised to see dance numbers and enactments of almost every referenced scene in the play. It's once thing to have a younger Mrs. Lovett mirroring actions in spaced defined as the historical shop space (that is, when Benjamin Barker and his wife Lucy were the occupants); it is another thing to stage an elaborate swimsuit dance number to accompany Mrs. Lovett's song 'By the Sea'.

Overall, however, I did enjoy the show. They opted to use flour (and wig removal, which I will explain if you are interested) to signify death/murder which made an interesting complicity with Mrs. Lovett's pie shop. There were some unintentional uses of it as well (such as Anthony accidentally wearing some of the flour left by Pirelli in a previous scene). There was clearly lots of thought and effort in the production. And it's a great piece of theatre.

I encouraged some non-musical-theatre-lovers to attend this production. All of them enjoyed it, though this was usually followed by the disclaimer that they still have issues with musical theatre as a form. And I must agree that there are plenty of issues to be had. But there's lots of enjoyment to be had as well.