‘Sweeney Todd’ to open Cohoes Music Hall run tonight
COHOES, N.Y. » The mark of a great piece of theater is that new insights keep revealing themselves even after repeated viewings.
One such show is “Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” which opens a run Thursday through Nov. 3 at Cohoes Music Hall.
The Stephen Sondheim/ Hugh Wheeler work has been done as a huge cast musical and as a chamber piece. The sung- through piece has been offered by many opera companies and often is presented in a simple concert version. It is always affecting.
Molly Rose McGrath is playing Mrs. Lovett, the pie baking accomplice of the mass murderer, Sweeney Todd. It’s her second time doing the role locally. In 2016, she performed the role at Schenectady Light Opera Company.
“That was a traditionally large production. It had a huge cast who wore period costumes and were accompanied by a big orchestra. At Cohoes the only thing big about our production is the risk we are taking,”she says.
She calls the Cohoes effort, “immersive.” She explains that the Cohoes Music Hall will be stripped of seating and replaced by long tables to evoke the mood of both an 18th century pie shop and an 1850 Victorian Music Hall. “The performers will literally be inches away from the audience,” she says.
She quickly adds that they have no intent to force the audience to be unwilling participants in the action. “You might have someone dancing or murdered on your table, but no forced participation,” she laughs. “No one will be made to feel uncomfortable.”
Obviously, to achieve such intimacy you need a small cast. This production uses only eight performers and very few props. The audience will be asked to use its imagination.
Just as the production is opposite from the SLOC effort, her interpretation of the character is also completely different. “I came to rehearsals convinced I would portray Mrs. Lovett as a totally evil woman,” she says.
But things changed rather quickly. “As we started to work, a chemistry developed between me and Jason. (Jacoby, who plays Sweeney Todd). We realized that Lovett’s motivation, besides greed, could be a genuine love she has for the barber who has been driven mad by the terrible things people in power have done to his wife, daughter and himself.”
McGrath points out that both she and Jacoby are in their mid-30’s, which is about two decades younger than the characters are traditionally played.
“Instead of the usual sexless relationship, my portrayal being based on love will add more logic to their behavior.”
She is quick to point out that this “immersive” style permits changes of traditional interpretations. She is equally quick to point out the dangers.
“Everything we do depends on mutual trust. Every night is uncharted territory where anything can happen. You have to be confident the other cast members have your back.”
She couldn’t be more pleased with the cast the director Owen Smith has assembled. “Not only is each actor talented, they have amazing theater instincts. I love this group of people.”
She has special praise for her co- star, Jacoby. “He’s the real deal,” she gushes. “He just finished a long run in “Avenue Q,” in New York City and I totally see him in that role. But he’s a perfect Sweeney Todd as well. You just can’t get two roles further apart from each other.”
McGrath is no slouch in the chameleon role- changing game herself. She’s been a mainstay of local theater since she was a teenager. She’s performed with every area theater company and counts seven seasons starring with Park Playhouse, the producing organization for “Sweeney Todd.”
“People are used to our big summer shows in Albany,” she says. “This is a great opportunity to surprise audiences and it gives us a chance to take a risk and offer audiences something fresh and exciting.”
“Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Produced by Park Playhouse’s Playhouse Stage Company. At Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes. Thursday through Nov. 3. For tickets and schedule information call (518) 434- 0776.