Natasha Mckim hears about an Aberdeen society who are warming up their vocal chords.
Most people will have heard of the demon barber of Fleet Street. Even if you don’t know the horror story, you will likely know of the time Johnny Depp played Sweeney Todd and sang his way through numerous murders.
In Victorian London, barber Sweeney Todd sets out to take revenge on a judge who ruined his life many years ago. Unfortunately, many innocent people fall foul of his plan as Sweeney and his aid Mrs Lovett end up baking the bodies of their victims into pies.
While the story is familiar in the gory horror stories of the country, the music adds another exciting dimension to the tale. The lyrical score creates depth, causing the audience to feel more involved with the tale. The music twists emotions and causes the hairs on the back of the neck to rise in terror.
A group of Aberdeen students have bravely taken on the task of performing the haunting and exciting Stephen Sondheim musical. The University of Aberdeen Opera Society are telling the tale of the closest shave of the Victorian era. For six months they have been balancing their studies with learning the complex score, aided by their conductor, Professor Paul Mealor.
“It is the first time the opera society have done a musical,” said Paul.
“It has amazing pieces and is packed full of music.”
For this performance, the society have created an electro-acoustic soundscape, interacting with the music. As the audience arrive for the show, they will be immersed in Victorian London, surrounded by the sounds of Cockney phrases and the cobbled streets of the city.
Paul helped to re-establish the society when they asked him to assist the group several years ago in the Marriage of Figaro. He is a huge admirer of the Sondheim musical.
He said: “The musicals are legendary. It is an unusual tale for a family musical, but has humour and fun in the darkness.
“We have had a whale of a time and everyone is in such good form. I knew they were good, but I have been blown away by the band, cast and chorus.
“It is tricky, difficult music, which they have had to learn then add the acting.
“The students run the society themselves. They created the staging and the costumes and a chair which shoots people across the stage. It is a real tour de force and has taken over people’s lives.”
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, is on at ACT Aberdeen, March 9 and 11, at 7.30pm, with a matinee performance on March 11 at 1pm. See www.aberdeenperformingarts.com