His skin was pale and his eye was odd
He shaved the faces of gentlemen
Who never thereafter were heard of again
He trod a path that few have trod
Did Sweeney Todd
The demon barber of Fleet Street
The opening lyrics are a trailer of what plays out on the stage in the Tony Award winning musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. A gripping, twisted tale of revenge, Sweeney Todd, is best described as both terrifying and darkly funny.
First appearing on a Broadway stage in 1979, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd was a groundbreaker in musical theatre as it broke from the traditional themes of stage productions by blending horror, tragedy and dark comedy. The tale follows Sweeney Todd, a barber, seeking vengeance on the judge who wronged him, and his partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett who turns his victims into the savory fillings for her meat pies.
The tale of Sweeney Todd will be shared over the next two weekends by student actors with the award-winning Coal City Theatre Department. The spring production was selected by the students who were asked by their director, Jack Micetich, what musical they would like to put on stage.
“Sweeney Todd was the students' selection and they have certainly put their hearts and souls into this show,” Micetich said, noting some of them are coming in early or staying after scheduled rehearsals to work through their scenes and vocals.
Senior Melody Kinder is taking the stage as the resourceful and cunning Mrs. Lovett. The purveyor of meat pies, she is oddly humorous, a bit manipulative and even opportunistic. The role was Melody’s dream to play, and while it was something she envisioned, but didn’t see happening in her high school years, here she is about to present the tale to audiences.
“Playing Mrs. Lovett has been the most demanding yet freeing thing I have done in my entire life. I literally just get to play and be stupid on stage and I have no better word to describe this experience besides fun,” said Melody, who has been a part of the school’s theatre program for nine years.
Mrs. Lovett’s life changes for the better—or does it—when a customer walks into her pie shop. She immediately takes notice of this man, there is something familiar about him and then it becomes clear she’s known him before.
This man is none other than the barber who calls himself Sweeney Todd. Mason Hamilton, a junior, is taking on the role of the man—once known as Barker—who was wrongfully convicted by a corrupt judge. When the time comes, Sweeney returns to London to get revenge on the man who sent him away from his wife and child. Sweeney is a dark, tragic and tormented character.
Sweeney Todd is full of rich, multi-dimensional characters, each with their own complexities and tragic arcs—Anthony and Johnanna, Judge Turpin and the Beadle, the Beggar Woman and Tobias, even Signor Pirelli.
The Coal City Theatre Department’s production does an excellent job of showcasing the uniqueness of each character and their connection to Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett, and how their actions and interactions result in the final outcome of the tale.
Principle members of the cast are—Theo Fritz, as Anthony Hope; Olivia Sage, as Johanna; Brody D’Orazio, as Tobias Ragg; Madison Wilson, as Beggar Woman; Logan Hausman, as Judge Turpin; Mason Natyshok, as Beadle Bramford, and Martin Ramirez as Adolfo Pirelli. And, featured in the production is Maxx Kramer, as Jonas Fogg.
No production is successful without its ensemble and these members are—Eliana Chernesky, Alec Waliczek, Bella Byers, Aubrey Grunwald, Austin Harding, Leo McCants, Julian Micetich, Jordan Olson, Anthony Royster, Gianna Savarino, Sam Vota, Evelyn Wills, Cora Armstong, Bella Bartholomew, Ethan Donnelly, Wyatt Chase, Caroline Childers, Gavin Clubb, Kyah Hawkins, Isabella Palacios, Anastasia Papach, Kyle Odam, Jack Steinhouse, Gabby Vanduyne, Charlotte Banks, Gianna Carver, Lexi Dearth, Jolene Jones, Victorya Morales, and Brady Pierson.
Micetich and his team began working with students in January and have spent that time in vocal, blocking and choreography rehearsals. For the majority of the cast these rehearsals have been taking place along with all of the additional activities the students are involved in including athletics, academic programs and club activities.
“One thing about our program is that our students are very well rounded. Every member of our cast participates in something outside of theatre. Two of the cast members advanced to state in speech, three cast members were selected to the All-State Choir and between our cast and crew we have five students that were part of the state championship wrestling team,” Micetich said, noting he feels its important to have students be involved in high school and therefore he strives to work with the coaches and advisers on rehearsal times to ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate.
Micetich also credits the students for honoring their commitments and knowing their time limits, “one thing our students know is how to schedule their time. Some are up and out the door by 6 a.m. and don’t get back home until 10 or 11 p.m. These students are dedicated to their academics and extracurriculars, and I have always appreciated that,” the director said.
Along with the cast, the production is supported by a student crew of 13 individuals working behind the scenes to make sure the sets and props are in place, the lights are on and music can be heard. These students are—Cade Poyner, Gavin Berger, Mason Garner, Cooper Morris, Talen Vandewerken, Gaven Vestal, Ben Watson, Hunter Gill, Abby Kodat, Bridget Feeney, Gabriel Hamilton, Jimmy Norris and Tyler Phillips.
The cast members all say they are excited for audiences to see their take on Sweeney Todd and that comes this week as the opening performance is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, March 7 in the Coal City Performing Arts Center. Additional performances this weekend are Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. The cast will follow the same performance schedule the weekend of March 14-16. Tickets are $10 per person, reserved seat tickets can be purchased online at bit.ly/ CCTheatreDept. Remaining seats will be available at the door beginning one hour prior to each scheduled performance, cash only.
The cast respectfully asks audience members to arrive at least 5 minutes prior to each performance and be ready to enjoy the tale of Sweeney Todd.