Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Pitt and CMU?
Last spring I went to CMU to see The Alice Project. It was a very innovative telling of Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. Reading my program I discovered that CMU would present a production of Sweeney Todd in the spring of 2012. I made a note to myself to see it.
Many months later I received an email inviting me to an alumni reception following Pitt's production of Sweeney Todd. I was so surprised and excited to be able to see two versions of Sweeney Todd in such a short span. This wasn't planned at all. It was completely random happenstance.
Pitt's production in November 2011
For those of you who have never been to the Charity Randall Theatre within the Stephen Foster Memorial, it is a very old and small venue which requires creativity to present with limited amenities. The set was extremely minimalistic. There was a raked stage (slanted) with a small aside and a few crates and bird cages about. A chair or table was brought to the stage as needed, but for the majority of the show the stage remained empty.
A huge bonus was that this was the first time the theater department collaborated with Pitt's Symphony Orchestra. There wasn't much room for the musicians. They were crammed between the front row and the stage with the brass seated in the balcony. Regardless of the cramped conditions it was a wonderful thing. Live music is always best because of the energy and the opportunity to go "Oooooh, that's how that sound is made!"
Pitt's program also pairs professional actors with students. Sweeney, Mrs. Lovett and Judge Turpin were all professionals and the students were just as good. My favorite was Andy Nagraj as Judge Turpin. He reminded me of Benicio Del Toro and had the deepest voice that just resonated so wonderfully.
My only disappointment with the show was that there was no blood. They used dramatic red lighting and body language. Though for the furnace, the ensemble put on ribbons and waved their arms about to create flames. Very very nice touch. A small gallery from the show.
CMU's production in February 2012
The Philip Chosky Theater is a higher tech facility. Entering the theater we were presented with a beautiful red velvet curtain enhanced with red lighting and a gold chandelier hovering just above the stage. The orchestra was hidden in a pit under the stage and you could barely see the conductor's head.
The ensemble makeup was super pale with very dark eyes and gaunt faces which worked amazing with the dramatic up lighting. It was also interesting that throughout the show the ensemble kept removing layers of their clothing until they were down to their skivvies at the end.
There were more set pieces than Pitt's production and a lot of fly work. Sweeney was lowered to the stage in a cage. Johanna was frequently on a swing. Her entrance costume had a huge "feathery" train making her look like a song bird on a perch. There was a rolling staircase which was used in many different ways. And an excellent platform for Sweeney's shop. The stage also had a number of trap doors with dramatic up lighting.
But there was something I was hoping for in this production. Pirelli and Sweeney fight. Sweeney's blade moves across Pirelli's neck and there was a glorious spray of blood. *finally* Oh the carnage! Plenty of blood was spilt throughout the rest of the show. Instead of a chair that would dump bodies down a chute, the victims would get up and walk away. Given their already pale appearance, they had a zombie look when covered in blood. Dramatic lighting enhanced the creepiness of the pale and bloody ensemble.
Absolutely amazing production. I wish I had a copy of it on video.
I would tell you to go see Sweeney Todd at CMU before it's too late, but the remaining shows have all sold out. After seeing it for myself I know why.
In the end, the CMU production was a higher caliber, but both were well presented shows.
Many months later I received an email inviting me to an alumni reception following Pitt's production of Sweeney Todd. I was so surprised and excited to be able to see two versions of Sweeney Todd in such a short span. This wasn't planned at all. It was completely random happenstance.
Pitt's production in November 2011
For those of you who have never been to the Charity Randall Theatre within the Stephen Foster Memorial, it is a very old and small venue which requires creativity to present with limited amenities. The set was extremely minimalistic. There was a raked stage (slanted) with a small aside and a few crates and bird cages about. A chair or table was brought to the stage as needed, but for the majority of the show the stage remained empty.
A huge bonus was that this was the first time the theater department collaborated with Pitt's Symphony Orchestra. There wasn't much room for the musicians. They were crammed between the front row and the stage with the brass seated in the balcony. Regardless of the cramped conditions it was a wonderful thing. Live music is always best because of the energy and the opportunity to go "Oooooh, that's how that sound is made!"
Pitt's program also pairs professional actors with students. Sweeney, Mrs. Lovett and Judge Turpin were all professionals and the students were just as good. My favorite was Andy Nagraj as Judge Turpin. He reminded me of Benicio Del Toro and had the deepest voice that just resonated so wonderfully.
My only disappointment with the show was that there was no blood. They used dramatic red lighting and body language. Though for the furnace, the ensemble put on ribbons and waved their arms about to create flames. Very very nice touch. A small gallery from the show.
CMU's production in February 2012
The Philip Chosky Theater is a higher tech facility. Entering the theater we were presented with a beautiful red velvet curtain enhanced with red lighting and a gold chandelier hovering just above the stage. The orchestra was hidden in a pit under the stage and you could barely see the conductor's head.
The ensemble makeup was super pale with very dark eyes and gaunt faces which worked amazing with the dramatic up lighting. It was also interesting that throughout the show the ensemble kept removing layers of their clothing until they were down to their skivvies at the end.
There were more set pieces than Pitt's production and a lot of fly work. Sweeney was lowered to the stage in a cage. Johanna was frequently on a swing. Her entrance costume had a huge "feathery" train making her look like a song bird on a perch. There was a rolling staircase which was used in many different ways. And an excellent platform for Sweeney's shop. The stage also had a number of trap doors with dramatic up lighting.
But there was something I was hoping for in this production. Pirelli and Sweeney fight. Sweeney's blade moves across Pirelli's neck and there was a glorious spray of blood. *finally* Oh the carnage! Plenty of blood was spilt throughout the rest of the show. Instead of a chair that would dump bodies down a chute, the victims would get up and walk away. Given their already pale appearance, they had a zombie look when covered in blood. Dramatic lighting enhanced the creepiness of the pale and bloody ensemble.
Absolutely amazing production. I wish I had a copy of it on video.
I would tell you to go see Sweeney Todd at CMU before it's too late, but the remaining shows have all sold out. After seeing it for myself I know why.
In the end, the CMU production was a higher caliber, but both were well presented shows.