"SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET," EGYPTIAN THEATRE COMPANY, Park City, through Oct. 31 (435-649-9371 or www.parkcityshows.com), running time: two hours, 45 minutes (one intermission).
PARK CITY — Who knew a story about a serial killer could be so much bloody fun?
This Halloween season, the Egyptian Theatre Company is giving audiences an early treat with a wonderful production of the delightfully twisted story of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."
Stephen Sondheim's sharp musical thriller tells the story of Benjamin Barker, a barber in the mid 1800s London who is arrested on false charges by the corrupt Judge Turpin and sent to prison for 15 years. He returns as Sweeney Todd, a barber who swears his revenge after learning his wife poisoned herself after being raped by Turpin, and his daughter was now Turpin's ward. Todd meets Mrs. Lovett, a woman who sells the worst meat pies in London primarily because high prices have forced her to use substitutes for the meat one would normally expect to find in their pies.
Together, Todd and Lovett devise a dark plot for Sweeney to get his revenge. Todd sets up shop above Lovett's store and provides customers with the guaranteed closest shave in town. Meanwhile, Lovett's pies suddenly become the hottest selling, tastiest treats in London thanks to her new mystery meat.
Although the subject matter in "Sweeney Todd" may not satisfy everyone's taste, those who aren't bothered by the dark story line will enjoy the suspenseful, chilling tale that manages to also throw in a love story and, believe it or not, comedic elements that are truly funny, albeit off-color comedy.
J. Michael Bailey plays the butcher-barber Todd. His partner in crime is Camille Van Wagoner who plays Mrs. Lovett. Both roles are demanding on the actors, both emotionally and physically (so many stairs to climb on this set!) and the success or failure of the play weighs largely on them. Bailey does a great job making the audience feel Todd's anguish and anger. You're not sure if you should actually be pulling for a throat slasher to succeed as the lines separating what is right and wrong, good and evil, become blurred.
Van Wagoner is also splendid as the warped Mrs. Baker who has the audience in stitches with "The Worst Pies in London" and "A Little Priest." Although her cockney sometimes sounds more like a New York City accent, it's a small mark on an otherwise very good performance.
The show wisely uses a seven-piece orchestra with strings and horns. The orchestra was brilliant, although the sound mixing opening night was a bit off as the orchestra at times drowned out the singers. There were no flaws however, when the full 21-member company was on stage for the opening "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," immediately setting the right tone for the play.
Director Jim Christian has done an excellent job preparing the cast for the nearly three-hour production. Theatre fans already familiar with "Sweeney Todd" will find it worth their time to make the trip to Park City. Those who aren't familiar with it should see it if for no other reason they'll be able to brag to their friends in December that they already know the story when the major motion picture version staring Johnny Depp is released.
Sensitivity rating: Recommended for mature audiences. No actual blood is seen, but there are plenty of unnatural deaths. Also some brief profanity and suggestive situations.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com