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EXPLORING NEW YORK CITY - Sweeney Todd: Brilliant

EXPLORING NEW YORK CITY - Sweeney Todd: Brilliant
by E. Joyce Glasgow - SGN A&E Writer The new Broadway production of Sweeney Todd starring Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris is brilliant. Distilled and minimalist and a bit gothic, this highly original and contemporary production, first created for the London stage by director John Doyle, shrinks the cast size down to one third the size of the original production and the cast members play all their own instruments while acting and singing. The simplified and ritualized stage directions allow the audience members to concentrate on the more subtle aspects of the characters' relationships and it's almost like experiencing a whole new play. It's quite wonderful that the actors are so multi-talented, playing adeptly on cello, violin, keyboard, trumpet, clarinet, guitar and acoustic bass, with Patti LuPone playing percussion and tuba, an instrument that she used to play as a youngster. The unusual, chamber-like musical arrangements, also give a whole new feeling to Stephen Sondheim's music and is quite moving. Patti LuPone has been quoted as saying that she hasn't felt this creative since she started acting at Julliard in 1968 as she does in this production of Sweeney Todd. I highly recommend seeing Sweeney Todd. It's worth making the time for while in New York City. Sweeney Todd is playing at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St., N.Y.C., (212) 239-6200, www.sweeneytoddonbroadway.com.