Theater Review:

CTC's "Sweeney Todd" -- a perfect little barbershop of horrors
By HOLLIE VINSON - The Buzz

Pirelli (played by Tony Varicelli, right), struggles for his life as he fights with Sweeney Todd, (Allen Lunde) during a rehearsal for "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."(Jason Halley/The Buzz)

A treat you couldn't expect even during this ghoulish season was dished out Friday during Chico Theater Company's opening-night production of "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Jerry Miller masterfully directed this exceptionally good production by Marc Edson with a fresh interpretation of the Victorian melodrama by Hugh Wheeler, turned in to a horrifying musical by Stephen Sond-heim.

"Sweeney Todd" is the story of a recurring nightmare on Fleet Street that is laden with underlying moral issues. The play features an assemblage of Chico's finest theatrical artists playing creepy yet fascinating characters.

It is set in 1846 London and told in an almost non-stop series of songs in two acts.

As the play begins, Tobias (Blair Pallmerlee) is seen in asylum garb rocking his head back and forth to mournful tunes.

The audience now enters his nightmare.

Enter Todd (Allen Lunde), a just-released prisoner, and Anthony (Paul Wrona), a sailor, on the ship docks of London. Beggar woman Kimberly Mendez approaches the pair for a few coins and more. Her comic interludes provide the first laughs in this intense show.

Todd is intent on resuming his profession as a barber in a place above the shop of Mrs. Lovett (Sarah Foster), the baker of the "worst pies in London."

Filled with anger sparked by revenge, Todd gives customers a shave too close to their throat. Mrs. Lovett finds an efficient but not so tasteful -- in both senses of the word -- use of Todd's handiwork. The two now have an unlikely alliance.

Foster is quite funny as she sings about "The Worst Pies in London," and Lunde is haunting when he sings "My Friends" to his razors.

Meanwhile, Anthony is courting the beautiful Johanna (Allison Rich), gowned in an elegant frock courtesy of costumer Nancie Willis, through the courtyard window of her nefarious caretaker Judge Turpin (Martin Taylor).

The rest of this best-of-Chico cast is Ken Dalton as Beadle, Turpin's assistant, and Tony Varicelli as Pirelli, Todd's adversary in his trade.

Every actor gave top-notch performances from beginning to end. All were in great voice in this spine-tingling musical

Tobias, played by Palmerlee, gave a sincere performance that held the complex story line together.

Lunde, as Todd, created a genuine fear and ruled every scene he was in. Foster, as Mrs. Lovett, added equal parts of comedy and pathos to Todd's exploits and madness.

Wrona and Rich made delightful lovebirds and gave an added dimension to this chilling show.

I got a laugh every time Mendez entered a scene and was entertained by the antics of Taylor and Varicelli.

Behind every character's story is a deeper story that added to the unpredictable horrors in "Sweeney Todd." In the end, there are no unresolved issues in this macabre tale. The audience will understand why Tobias' nightmare lives on.

The show would not have worked without the wonderfully creepy music of Jevon Gegg-Mitchell, Eric Markow, Mendi O'Belahbib, P.L. Howard and Carlotta Jacobs. The close relationship between the music and the dramatic action gave this dark musical its power.

Lighting design by Edson kept audience attention focused on the action and mood of "Sweeney Todd."

Miller and John Mich's set design was skillfully crafted and magnificently designed. I found it particularly clever that the audience was able to believe the action on the CTC stage was taking place on three different levels -- upstairs, downstairs and in the basement, where the heinous acts were committed.

Another notable feature of the play's set design was Todd's ingenious murder weapon -- the disappearing barber chair.

"Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" does not offer easy escapism but as long as you know what to expect the CTC's production of this musical thriller is as good as it gets.

Chico Theater Company presents "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street," 7:30 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays through Nov. 12, with 2 p.m. performances Oct. 30 and Nov. 6. Chico Theater Company is located at 166 Eaton Road. Tickets, $15-$22 ($2 discount for seniors and students), are available at the box office (noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday), by calling 894-3282 or visiting www.chicotheatercompany.com. Add $2 at the door. All seats are $15 on Thursdays.