Joey Sanzaro stars as Mr. Todd. From the moment of his emotional return to London after escaping years in Australia’s Botany Bay penal colony, you know you’re in for a special rendition of this character. Joey’s painful nostalgia for his home is palpable, making him tremble as the years of loss hit him. Those losses include his wife, raped by Judge Turpin who sent him away, and his infant daughter Johanna, now a lovely teenage ward of Turpin. The desperate need to avenge his wife and free his daughter, leaving his sanity thinner and thinner, is felt in his every word and movement. A blood lust he can’t control.

And one he may get some help with thanks to Mrs. Lovett, the friendly baker of meat pies just downstairs from his old barbershop, who has always had a thing for the boy next door. Even keeping his silver shaving razors as a memento, with fatal and lucrative results. Georgina Simon is his partner in crime, doing so with great singing and stage presence and comedy as she works to create a respectable business and tries to make herself respectable as Mr. Todd’s next wife.

The strong cast includes a fantastic performance by Ryan Duncan as Judge Turpin, capturing the character’s need to control others and to try to control himself, culminating in dramatic self-flagellation. But he’s also got a good sense of humor when appropriate (his Pretty Women shaving scene with Sweeney) and a deep, rich voice. Rebecca Simpson Wallack also delivers a terrific performance with beautiful vocal work in her portrayal of the mentally unstable Beggar Woman. Travis Crowley is an amusing Pirelli, a rival barber with a flair for the outrageous, with Trevor Carr as his innocent and tender youth Tobias. Austin Christensen is a kind and earnest Anthony, the young sailor who falls in love with Sweeney’s imprisoned daughter Johanna, with Brittanie Burke lending her lovely vocals and sweet, fragile personality to the role.

Performs June 10 - 14, 2009

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

Sweeney Todd: