BWW Reviews: MTW Honors SWEENEY TODD

Hard to believe, but Sweeney Todd first bowed on Broadway in late 1979 and I was in New York to witness the brilliant achievement of Sondheim, Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou and the entire creative team. MTW is presenting the masterwork for the first time and to celebrate its 30th anniversary. They may rightfully be exceedingly proud of this production, as it replicates everything that the original achieved.

I rarely use the word 'brilliant', but I must, as I sat mesmerized at Saturday's matinee by every move and every musical beat. Norman Large as Sweeney, Debbie Prutsman as Mrs. Lovett, Jim Holdridge as Tobey, Michelle Duffy as the Beggar Woman, Dan Callaway as Anthony, Sarah Bermudez as Johanna, Roland Rusinek as Beadle Bamford, Alan M-L Wager as Pirelli, and Richard Gould as Judge Turpin are all superb under Remsberg ingenious direction. The set, costumes and staging look remarkabley like the original, and who can remember it better than Remsberg who played the Beadle in that production.

Bravo, bravo, bravo! through next Sunday only!

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Sweeney Todd book by Hugh Wheeler; music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim directed by Calvin Remsberg Musical Theatre West (MTW) @ The Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach through February 14. For more information, visit www.carpenterarts.org.

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