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LAist Recommends: Sweeney Todd at the Ahmanson
The company of "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" | Photo by DavidAllenStudio.com
Written by Stephen Sondheim, the original "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is a classic. The most recent Tim Burton screen adaptation of Edward Sissorhands the musical was "meh." And last night's Los Angeles premiere under John Doyle's direction was, simply put, purely amazing.
It begins as the lights go down in the house and up on stage. It's an uncomfortable raw silence that the audience succumbs to. There's no sound, no music, just the actors, looking out into nothingness from a set that was minimalist and visually orgasmic for the macabre-inclined. The performance begins, every actor with their instrument in hand, they speak, they sing and they accompany themselves, as the orchestra pit is empty -- it's up to the ten characters to survive the next two-hours on their own.
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This version of Sweeney Todd came out in 2005 on Broadway to raving reviews, eventually being nominated for a few Tonys and winning Best Direction and Best Orchestration. It's more avante-garde than your usual musical fare, but we like it that way. You will too.
A talk with Benjamin Eakeley, The Beadle/piano/clarinet/saxophone playerSweeney Todd plays through April 6th at the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets run $25-$90.
Hear Music Director Andy Einhorn talk about the productionAudio podcasts by Center Theatre Group
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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