HARRISBURG, Pa. — Within the tale of a barber seeking revenge against those who took away his perfect life lies the horror musical icon that can be mistaken for nothing else.
"Everyone gets to interpret the show a different way," said Rachel Landon, who portrays Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd" at Harrisburg's Open Stage. "It doesn't matter how many versions of the show you've seen, you haven't seen this version."
For Brad Barkdoll, who plays the title character seeking revenge, this performance serves as one of his most difficult theatre experiences.
"Words, rhythms, it's a step above difficulty than what I've done before so I've had to put in a lot of work outside of the theatre, which is new for me," Barkdoll said. "It's easily the most difficult role I've had to do."
Theatre-goers and newbies to "Sweeney Todd" alike should be able to agree that you get your money's worth in the variety the show brings.
"It's grotesque, it's macabre," Landon said. "It's a horror story, it's also a musical, it's also a comedy, it's also a revenge story."
The music of the Sondheim classic also provides well-known titles like Worst Pies in London, Johanna, A Little Priest and many more. Balancing the humor and the humanity helps this revenge story that, while macabre, is rather understandable at its core.
"I think people really identify with him even though, by the end, you realize you're rooting for the wrong guy," Landon said.
She talks more about the musical in the interview below:
Perhaps this proves why it's an icon now in its fifth decade after originating in 1979.
"It's someone who's desiring revenge that had something very great taken from him," Barkdoll said.
Performances of "Sweeney Todd" at Open Stage continue through March 16. For more information, visit the theatre's website.