"Sweeney Todd"
Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks
Hartford
Through July 5, 2026
(Click here for a previous separate take on the show by Midbrow's Jamil Ragland.)
Who knew a show about a demonic barber and cannibalistic pies could be so intimate? Hartford Stage and TheatreWorks Hartford’s current production of “Sweeney Todd” – their first co-production – brings the classic Sondheim musical to life with a powerful performance by a small but mighty cast.
Based on the Christopher Bond play based on the Victorian penny dreadful series, “Sweeney Todd” is a story of vengeance and the brutal hierarchy of humanity. After being falsely imprisoned by a corrupt judge who destroyed his family, barber Benjamin Barker returns to London for vengeance, now under the guise of “Sweeney Todd.” He returns to his former shop on Fleet Street where he meets struggling pie-maker Mrs. Lovett, who tells him the horrible fate of his family: a wife who poisoned herself after being assaulted by the judge and a teenage daughter that has since been raised as his ward. As Todd’s vengeance grows to full-on bloodlust, he and Lovett devise a creative, morally questionable solution that boosts business for both. Along the way we’re treated to some of Sondheim’s best music, including “Johanna,” “A Little Priest” and, my favorite, “Not While I’m Around.”
Productions of “Sweeney Todd” can feature more than 25 performers. Director Rob Ruggiero’s production manages to create a robust show using only nine actors and clever staging. Luke Cantarella’s set design features a catwalk that encompasses the front rows of the audience, allowing actors to walk among them – even addressing them directly with offers of meat pies and shaves. They also make generous use of the aisles – even in the balcony – further bringing the story to the audience and drawing us into their world.
The set itself has a modern vibe, as opposed to a direct recreation of the show’s 19th Century setting. The black-and-white backdrop features bright lettering advertising Todd and Lovett’s services, with colors that change with lighting throughout the show. A square black platform atop the stage serves as Todd’s upstairs barber shop with Lovett’s pie shop and other settings below. Both have frequently used trap doors, especially the main stage, which bring up the baking station, loveseat and organ.
The cast is led by Matt Faucher in the title role and Jackie Burns as Mrs. Lovett. The rest portray the other named characters in addition to filling out the myriad ensemble roles often portrayed by a larger cast to no detriment.
Faucher is deliciously demonic, ending the opening number with a creepy smile that immediately goes to black, setting the tone for the rest of the show. His baritone is rich and resonant, and his brooding, smoldering demeanor makes you understand why Mrs. Lovett held a candle for him for 15 years.
Burns as the cockney-ed opportunist Mrs. Lovett is his perfect match, balancing the brooding with warm charm. Her comedic timing and instincts are impeccable, with cheek and inflections that brought out the humor in the otherwise macabre show.
Poor Tristan Caldwell gets killed no less than four times in the production as rival barber Pirelli and asylum director Jonas Fogg, plus two unsuspecting Todd customers. His flamboyant, exaggerated “Italian” Pirelli rivals the humor of Burns’ Lovett, also highlighting the dark humor of the musical.
"Sweeney Todd” is a special show. It’s dark but funny, entertaining but poignant, revealing ugly truths of who holds power in society and the consequences to innocent people when that power is exploited. It also shows us how even seemingly good people can go bad under the right circumstances.
Hartford Stage and TheatreWorks Hartford’s production proves that bigger isn’t always better. The collective talent of the cast and creative team is a perfect balance to create an experience that is both intimate and grand and ultimately impactful.
