The Lyric Stage Company of Boston has opened their 41st season with the musical thriller, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
The nearly three hour production is an ambitious venture that includes one of the more elaborate stagings and costume designs I’ve seen by the Lyric Stage as well as one of the largest casts with seventeen actors (I counted).
Set in Victorian England, the musical tells the story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a. Sweeney Todd, who secretly returns to London after being exiled to Australia as a criminal on trumped-up charge from a jealous judge. Not long after returning to London he plans his revenge but is thwarted. His need for revenge or madness (which is how I interpreted it) entirely consumes him. While the operatic nature of many of the songs made it hard to sometimes understand, I enjoyed the cast and admired their talent. They seemed at their best with their large group numbers but all gave solid performances.
Lyric Stage Co. Producing Artistic Director said this show cannot be extended and will conclude on Saturday, October 11th so get your tickets today.
BosGuy 