Sweeney Todd

For those who can’t get enough of Stephen Sondheim, masterly musician and lyricist, and Anthony Warlow, Australia’s greatest baritone performer – well, you’d better get your skates on and head for Sydney’s Darling Harbour. There, at the end of Vivid, you’ll find a brilliant concert version of the epic Sweeney Todd, before it moves to Melbourne for another 6 performances. 

It’s been re-imagined by Director Theresa Borg as a costumed work, with a 24-piece orchestra sharing a wide stage with a full range of actor/singers. The effectively radio-miked actors enter and exit through the orchestra lead by glamorously attired Vanessa Scammell. It’s something to see. 

Anthony Warlow leads the cast with his dour, frightening Sweeney, a man who’s been reduced to a chilling outline of humanity. Gradually, with the aid of the blithe Mrs Lovett, Warlow hits exactly the right sort of realism, flashing his trusty shaving blade: a man of creepy destiny.

Gina Riley is not as dour as some I have seen as the selfish Mrs Lovett, but she delivers the goods. Her teaming with Warlow is a joy – especially in the act-ending song ‘A Little Priest’, in which they joyously imagine pies made from the flesh of various sorts of people.

Debra Byrne is excellent as the two-faced Beggar Woman who holds the key to Sweeney’s story; Daniel Sumegi is the horrid Judge Turpin who rules the roost and who gets it in the end; Owen McCredie and Genevieve Kingsford are the two lovebirds, he ready for anything as long as his Johanna is around, she heading fast towards personal disaster.

The show’s arrival on Broadway in 1979, 40 years ago, is living proof of the effective brilliance of Sondheim as both composer and lyricist. The words just dance.

A word of warning: you’d better be cashed up if you go. The theatre at the International Convention Centre is not cheap. The cost of a seat goes up to $224 (program, $25). And anything less could land you in a seat way, way up the back. This theatre is made for concerts and solo superstars.

Still, it keeps out the noises of the harbour, except for the Vivid fireworks which could be distinctly heard during Act One.

Frank Hatherley

Photographer: Ben Fon.