Demon Barber of Fleet Street

So, on Wednesday I saw Sweeney Todd at the Lied center. I am always amazed at how different stage productions and films are, and yet how they both manage to get across the same themes, the same story...they're saying the same lines, but they way it is presented is so different!

This production was unlike anything I had every seen. First off, the actors all played at least one instrument, so they were both the orchestra and the actors. They would play and sing, or switch from playing to singing...but all of it was done quite seamlessly...it didn't feel 'off' or odd that they had these instruments...

In addition, they kept the same set for the entire musical, but they moved around props and used certain lighting to express ideas. One main prop piece was a coffin, which they used on two stands as a table, or stood upright to funtion as a judge's table (with a ladder set up in the back) seat...or turned it around to make it function as a higher platform. They did this with a few props, and the simplicity of it was beautiful...in addition, these prop transitions were done while others were singing, but it didn't distract from what was going on. in fact it was nice to have the play be continuous, without stopping to change scenes

Basically, Sweeney Todd at the Lied center was supremely well executed. I also discovered that there are subtle differences between the play and the movie, which was also interesting and also helped to deeper flesh out some characters and storyline. If they were doing the production another day here, I would totally recommend it.