SWEENEY TODD
Stephen Sondheim
Stage Direction | Lighting Design | Sebastian Ritschel |
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Musical Director | Ulrich Kern |
Set Design | Costume Design | Markus Meyer |
Dramaturgy | Ronny Scholz |
Choir | Manuel Pujol |
Premiere | 07. June 2014 | GHT Görlitz |
Cast
Sweeney Todd | Gary Martin |
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Mrs. Lovett | Yvonne Reich |
Anthony Hope | Sven Prüwer |
Johanna Barker | Kora Lang |
Tobias Ragg | Michael Ernst |
Judge Turpin | Stefan Bley |
Beadle Bamford | Hans-Peter Struppe |
Beggar Woman | Audrey Larose Zicat |
Adolfo Pirelli | Benjamin von Reiche |
Mr. Fogg | Benjamin von Reiche |
Trailer | SWEENEY TODD
Reviews
Jens Daniel Schubert - Sächsische Zeitung
SWEENEY TODD […] a jubilated premiere of the musical.
Sebastian Ritschel has a consistent and clear story telling. Although Todd's criminal intended and insane revenge and the bestial cannibalism of his ally are shown openly, their actions are fascinating apart from all moral judgement. Stage designer Markus Meyer built a interlaced set, that vividly shows the different layers of the play and their meaning. The iron bars of the jail and the mug shot of the murderer are forming a constantly present frame. Within there, the characters are alive. Todd, the man with the razor blade and Lovett, the pastry baker are all human and somehow comprehensible. […] This is pure horror, that in his absurd consequence provokes liberating laughter.
The production in Görlitz narrates this clear and consistent, with stylistic security and in big pictures with a continuous effect. But it exists especially because of its brilliant singers, who convincingly play their parts. There is Gary Martin singing the title part. No maniac, no mysterious psychopath, but a friendly loving father. One that does, what needs to be done. Alike Yvonne Reich as Mrs. Lovett. A grasping, down-to-earth woman with dreams of a happiness on the side of the strong Sweeney. And there are happy hours, when she can be a motherly mentor to the naïve, almost simple-minded Tobias Ragg. Really exuberantly and enthusiastically played by Michael Ernst.
Kora Lang and Sven Prüwer are playing the young couple Johanna and Anthony almost statically, inaccessibly beautiful and out of reach perfect. Their dramaturgical importance in the blistering play as a motor, a catalyser and a delaying factor, is held little on purpose in this production. Splendidly on the other hand the ever reoccurring appearances of the beggar woman, whose dramaturgical meaning stays hidden until the end and is despite all obstacles convincingly played and sung by Audrey Larose Zicat.
The dramatic and profound music was in safe hands at the “Neue Lausitzer Philharmonie” and Ulrich Kern. He gave a musical stimulus, carried the actions on stage, the singers (the choir, the little parts, the main characters) safely through the evening, which elated the many guests of the premiere. May they pass it on. Sweeney Todd awaits new customers.