His voice rolls out effortlessly, and his characterization of the confused and rage-addled Todd is haunting from start.

This kind of subtlety is on display throughout the entire opera.Īs Sweeney, Baritone Brian Mulligan lives up to his stellar reputation. Later in the same sequence, the staging emphasizes the different emotional takes on the story between the male and female chorus members, which foreshadows the very different kinds of madness shared by Mrs. A fine example is the opening chorus, in which the story of Sweeney Todd is being told to a child held on a man’s knee (“Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd….”) whose mother rushes up to pull him away. Nothing is lost or short changed.ĭirector Blakely has taken great care with the staging, never settling for the easy or the obvious. The diction, from chorus to principals, is crisp and clear, and the added help of supertitles is icing on the cake. However, the lyrics are not short changed either. Sondheim’s lyrical gifts are so remarkable, that they sometimes overshadow his dazzling musical expertise. Careful listening will reveal subtleties of interval and rhythm, motif and orchestration, dynamics and detail barely addressed, let alone polished, by most companies. (James Lowe will wield the baton on 9/26 and 9/29.) The entire production is full of wonders, from the marvelous design of Tanya McCallin to the carefully considered direction of Lee Blakeley, to the 43 piece orchestra conducted with bracing muscularity and precision by Patrick Summers. If Blythe’s creation is truly transcendent, it is not created in a vacuum. Hearing and seeing this phenomenal piece of work qualifies as one of the great theatrical experiences in a lifetime of theatregoing. Lovett offers one of the most brilliant performances I have ever seen on any stage. Let’s cut to the chase about this remarkable production. This reviewer is a voting member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle (SFBATCC) ) Brian Mulligan as Sweeney Todd at the SF Opera. ( For an explanation of TheatreStorm’s rating scale, click here.

Sweeney todd musical san francisco