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Cast named for Sweeney Todd production |
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Written by CHRISTINE SKOREPA
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
Dave Leach will play Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, when the musical opens this October.
The cast, which consists of 10 lead characters and 23 chorus members, has been chosen for the gruesome musical thriller, which will be presented by Excalibur Performers Association at the Prince George Playhouse.
Katherine Trepanier will play Mrs. Lovett, the pie maker; Gracie Wilson will be Tobi; Beau Walsh as Judge Turpin; Jason Dalio as Beadle; Julie Orlando as the Beggar Woman; Danielle Faulkner as Johanna; Nigel McInnis as Anthony; Mark Wheeler as Fogg; and Jay Sanders as Pirelli.
Artistic director Bonnie Leach said the greatest challenge comes in the lead role, which is for a singer who can act. A successful combination of theatrical skill and the ability to sing difficult music comes in the form of Leach, who was cast by musical director, Jordan Dyck.
Bonnie took a step back, removing herself from the panel of five, when her husband was auditioning, and allowed Dyck the opportunity to match the voices with the complex music of Sondheim that is such an integral part of the play.
Dyck, the artistic director of the Prince George Conservatory of Music, said there were so many people who were well suited for some of the roles, it was very difficult to choose.
"It would have been easier if there was a clear decision in every case -- that someone would be so much better than everyone else and that was certainly not the case," said Dyck. "There was tremendous talent."
During the initial audition, people came in and sang whatever they chose. During the callbacks, the performers were required to showcase the most difficult song within their role and that's when some of the performers were outstanding as far as preparation and technique were concerned.
Dyck said it was also a balance to give new talent an opportunity, while rewarding the more experienced performer and offering them roles, too.
Dyck said he thought it was important to have an objective opinion -- his, on the panel. He is on the periphery of musical theatre productions, having worked on Beauty and the Beast with Excalibur last year, and played in orchestras for other productions.
"I'm in a place where I can be more objective," said Dyck.
Lead role rehearsals will start in June and then the full cast rehearsals will start in August.
The story of Sweeney Todd starts in the dirty streets of Victorian-era London, where he was the barber of Fleet Street with a beautiful wife that attracted the attention of a corrupt judge. In order to get rid of Todd, the judge had the barber incarcerated for 15 years in a penal colony. In the meantime, the judge kidnaps the barber's wife and child. The judge then abused the barber's wife, tossing her out when he was finished with her, while keeping the lovely daughter as his own.
After the 15 years in prison, getting vengeance for the wrongs done to his family is the barber's reason for living.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 May 2008 )
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