Don’t make me bake you into a meat pie! ‘Sweeney Todd’ comes to Metro

By Andrea Heap
April 19, 2012

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A trip to the barber probably shouldn’t end in cannibalism. Metro’s theater department disagrees.

“Sweeney Todd” is a dark comedy about a barber who kills his patrons to avenge the loss of his beloved, Lucy. The musical is peppered with comedy that kept the audience laughing and the right amount of darkness that kept them guessing.

Todd’s accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, played by Metro senior Devin Thomas, could make the theater laugh simply with a facial expression.
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“The script has a fun and different take on it. Some people do it darker, some people do it lighter, and I thought it was a good mix of both.” Thomas said.

Nine musicans, mostly staff at Metro, manned the live orchestra located stage right. The set’s details made the musical as visually beautiful as the harmonious singing.

Metro senior Jo Gerlick thought the play was a huge success.

“I saw little bits and pieces of the set as it was coming along.”
Gerlick said. “I saw the boat, and the oven and the bare bones. I hadn’t seen any of the trim, or the paint job. It’s amazing. The technical elements are so well blended together.”

Metro senior Karl Jones, who worked as audio assistant for the show, said the design aspects were a challenge.

“This is extremely technical. A lot of pieces backstage, a lot of intricate parts that have to come together. We are extremely organized because we need to be.” Jones said.

Scott Lubinksi, associate professor at Metro, directed the play. He said the musical is much different than the movie, aside from the musical numbers.

“The movie is very bloody and cinematic, whereas we choose to use the effects theatrically in a different way. It’s about getting the audience to grab the material.” Lubinski said.

Part of the actors’ job before the show was to sit in a circle with Lubinski and talk about the characters in depth. Lubinski wanted to develop every character, including the antagonist, Judge Turpin, played by Metro freshman Jordan Roberts.

“The judge is hard because he’s obviously the bad guy, but you can’t play a bad guy just as the bad guy,” Roberts said as he applied stage makeup for a dress rehearsal April 9.

Roberts put in the time so the audience can trust he is a complex, flawed character.

“This isn’t on the script; I need to make it apparent through subtext.” Roberts said.

A cast of 22 people was chosen out of around 80 students who auditioned for the show in January. Lubinski was impressed with the caliber of talent in the cast.

“The right people always show up,” Lubinski said.

“Sweeney Todd” will play April 19-22 at Eugenia Rawls Courtyard Theater. Tickets are available through the King Center box office and are free for Metro students.
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