1980s punk-era London sets the stage for FTC Theatre’s ‘Sweeney Todd’
By Adrian Kartalozi
Five Towns College’s Theatre Division brought Stephen Sondheim’s musical thriller, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, to life from November 20th-23rd. Though the original tale is set in 19th-century Victorian London, FTC’s version, directed by Mitchell Walker, is set in 1980s punk-era London, exploring themes of filth and greed with an added edge. “There’s a hole in the world like a great black pit, and the vermin of the world inhabit it, and its morals aren’t worth what a pig could spit, and it goes by the name of London. At the top of the hole sit the privileged few making a mock of the vermin in the lower zoo, turning beauty into film and greed,” said Walker. The show’s “dark and evil” vibe matches the tone of the Theatre Division’s other recent amazing production of Macbeth, directed by Dr. David Krasner.
Sweeney Todd’s story is both familiar and horrifying to many. Sweeney Todd (Cody Meares) returns to London to seek revenge on Judge Turpin (Josiah Prescod), who forced him away from his wife and kidnapped his daughter Johanna (Calvin Reich), who is saved by Anthony Hope (Jesse Gunell), a young sailor who falls in love with Johanna. Todd reopens his barbershop with the intent of luring Judge Turpin to his shop above Mrs. Lovett’s (Gaia Tini) struggling pie shop. Todd begins a murderous spree, killing all the customers in his shop, as Mrs. Lovett uses the customers’ remains for her meat pies, turning her failing business into a local sensation. Todd’s thirst for revenge pushes him to kill to achieve his goal. Todd finally murders Judge Turpin, but shockingly discovers that the beggar woman (G Rosina) that he killed was his wife, who had gone insane. In the end, Todd is killed by the innocent pie boy Tobias (Marcus Gallatin) after Todd had pushed Mrs. Lovett into a burning oven.
Walker wanted to add an element of chic to the production and used the 1980s punk era to illustrate his vision. “I wanted to kind of add a little sexiness, a little bit more queerness, a little bit more contemporary vibe to it…..I wanted to put it more through the lens of a pop, like a pop rock, opera, and give it a little bit more grit, a little bit more, something that kind of sinks in, pun intended,” said Walker in an FTC Sound Stream Session interview with Jack Barton.
A classic with such complexity, only a stellar cast could pull off Sweeney Todd. Cody Meares and Gaia Tini blew the audience away with their authentic performance and chemistry as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett. Jesse Gunnell, who played Anthony Hope, wowed the crowd, signing a beautiful rendition of “Johanna.”
“The performers were phenomenal and gave it their all, and the set design was amazing with crazy projections. The show blew me out of the water!” said Film & Television major Sal Memoli.
The set design was overwhelmingly haunting, turning the FTC’s Performing Arts Center (PAC) into punky and funky London with a modern twist. Juliette Kealy’s lighting design was phenomenal and dramatic, representing the mood of each scene. The dance ensemble, led by the principal choreographer and Five Towns Theatre Arts student Zarai Rosa, added energy and electricity to the production.
“I honestly believe this is Mitchell Walker’s and some of Five Towns College’s best work yet. The crew put together this technical masterpiece with such precision and detail that it completely filled every crevice of the stage throughout the entire show,” said Film & Television major Joey Cicchelli.
Five Towns College’s production of Sweeney Todd was more than a retelling of a classic musical. It was a bold push fueled by creativity, risk-taking, and a clear artistic vision. With gripping performances, striking technical design, and an imaginative punk era concept, the FTC Theatre division delivered a spectacular show.
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