Revenge has never felt better than at the Barrington Stage Companys' production of Stephen Sondheims', Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Starring Tony Award winner Harriet Harris as Mrs. Lovett, and Jeff McCarthy, a well known Barrington Stage regular, as the title character. With a noticeably strong ensemble from the minute the, "Ballad of Sweeney Todd", starts the amount of talent present on the stage is clear and you are strapped in for an exciting evening. With a completely refreshing take on the role of Mrs. Lovett, Harriet Harris gives a performance that would make Angela Lansbury stand up and cheer. Harris plays the role as a more timid woman who then transforms into the loud outgoing shop owner who comes between and man and his plots of revenge. With the current Broadway fad to have microphones everywhere from foreheads to feet or props the goal is recently to amplify the sound so loud you can barely comprehend what is being said. Ms. Harris never over sings the material forcing the audience to pay attention to each lyric as she has them hanging on each and every word looking for new plot points to complete this musical theatre thriller. Jeff McCarthy is of course lovingly known most recently as Officer Lockstock in the 2002 Urinetown. Here he plays a much less comical role as Sweeney Todd the demon barber who is out for revenge. Being a comedic actor his impeccable comedic timing does a more than adequate job of wooing the audience when it is called for. The chemistry between Harris and McCarthy is as if they have been working together for years. Each moment you can sense that off stage they are as warm as the characters are to each other. Moments that are humorous, the two can be seen jumping and laughing around the stage maniacally. Moments that are tense and sad, the pair can be seen interacting and working off the energy of their counterpart to create a moment that is memorable and effective for all. The voices of the ensemble melt together like butter over popcorn yet each can standout by itself and be just as effective. To hear Mr. Sondheim's magnificent score with such powerful and pure sounding voices behind it is a theatre fan's dream as it mystifies and chills the audience seeing and hearing the material for the first time. A major standout in the cast is Zachary Clause as Tobias Ragg the young boy, who by certain circumstances comes to live, work, and become quite fond of Mrs. Lovett as a mother figure. Clause brings a certain boyish charm to the role that turns into overall madness at the climax of the musical. His rendition of, "Not While I'm Around" is haunting and unforgettable. With a wondrous voice he exhibits displays immense control and understanding of his voice at a level paralleled with some of the best of Broadways legendary performers. Above he is pictured as Tobias Ragg in the finale of the show.Get tickets at: Sweeney Todd Pittsfield Ma Tickets
