There was carnage

Sweeney Todd. Otaki Players Society at Otaki Civic Theatre 24 Aug 23. 🌟🌟🌟

This was my first time at the Otaki Civic Theatre and it’s a lovely space. It was well set up for this production with the ushers in costumes befitting the period in which Sweeney is set. The music playing before the show was well themed as well and set the mood for an entertaining night. The story is of a barber who returns to London many years after he was banished and finds his daughter in the hands of the man who banished him and his wife dead after committing suicide. He seeks to extract revenge and sets up a barber shop above Mrs Lovetts pie shop. Dominic van den Berg as Sweeney was absolutely fantastic with his rich baritone voice the perfect mix of menace and beauty. He commanded the stage and won me over almost immediately. Tracy Willis-Wright as Mrs Lovett also gave an outstanding performance as Mrs Lovett. I also particularly enjoyed the performance of Tua Faavale as Signor Adolfo Pirelli. His colourful costuming and solid vocals and acting were just right for his role. I was slightly disappointed that some of the chorus did not appear to know some of the words during the opening number but they were enthusiastic and for the most part were in tune and synch. It may have been opening nerves of course. The scene changes were handled particularly well I thought with only one or two a bit slow but overall well done indeed. Nothing kills a show more than dead empty spaces.

I was very disappointed to see the lack of local support for this production. The theatre was only 1/3 full on opening night and the good folks of Otaki should get out and support their theatre group. It’s a wonderful resource and well worth getting out of the house to support. I spotted a few Wellington theatre goers last night who had made the trip, which is a credit to the theatre family in this region.

This show is worth heading up to Otaki for simply to see and hear Dominic perform. This was my fifth Sweeney experience. It’s dark, it’s funny at times, and the music is to die for.