Performances in Manalapan High School Theatre’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ are a Cut Above

The “worst pies in London” are being served in Manalapan but for a limited time only.

Students in Manalapan High School Theatre are in the midst of a six-performance run of “Sweeney Todd”. Superbly casted and staged, the musical thriller has wowed audiences since its opening curtain on Thursday, March 31.

Patch caught up with the cast and crew following a 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, April 2.

“Sondheim is so difficult. The kids learning all the music and the notes is the biggest challenge,” said Director Jesse Grabowski, the theater club’s faculty advisor.

He has been pleasantly surprised by the turnout and support.

There were many obstacles along the way, including the building of a very technical set, the gathering of props, the making of mid 19th century costumes, and the music alone has been its own challenge.

The compositions have been known to challenge even the most experienced of actors. It was a rigorous feat that the students have embraced willingly, and they’ve handled the production with a great deal of professionalism.

The title character, senior Dan Petruccio, has been a hit with audiences. Petruccio has the voice, the demeanor, and even the hair to play a convincing Sweeney Todd. He executes the role with a perfect blend of passion and reservation. Ordinarily a rock musician, Petruccio has an edge to his vocals and brings the needed star quality to the role.

“You have to have a good mix of anger and sadness,” Petruccio said, explaining that the audience must feel some twinge of sympathy for Todd. “If they don’t, then the whole character is lost, and I’m an angry curmudgeon,” he added with a laugh.

His intensity as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street has even surprised his family members who have heard positive feedback.

“Someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘He plays demented so convincingly’,” said his proud mother, Rosanna Petruccio.

Supporting actress and senior Melissa Silano, plays the verbose Mrs. Lovett. Silano’s “Mockney” accent was a nice touch to the role.

“I’m very proud to have pulled off one of the hardest roles in music theater history,” said Silano. Her timing during “Worst Pies in London”, considered one of the most difficult songs of the soundtrack, was impeccable. 

“It’s rewarding as an actor to play versatile roles,” junior Steven Braunstein said. Usually casted as a comic relief character, he returned to the stage to play Anthony, a young sailor who falls in love with Johanna and sings one of the most powerful ballads in the musical.

Johanna, Sweeney Todd’s daughter, is played by senior Sami Citro who provides a soaring soprano. She’s locked away by the sinister Judge Turpin, played by senior Kevin Kemler.  

Kemler loves the ensembles in the show “where we’re all on stage together like a big family,” he said. In this show, the cast is definitely one, big demented family.

Judge Turpin is assisted by Beadle Bamford, played by senior Michael Lupia who is making his musical debut.

“Sondheim’s music is so hard to grasp and it’s definitely a challenge. It’s confusing the way it’s written,” said Lupia.

This was also sophomore Nicole Friedman’s first big singing role and she admitted she was a bit nervous at first; she plays the Beggar Woman.

“I have to be creepy and seductive and poor,” said Friedman. “To get that down took me a long time.”

The cast also featured senior Mike Podias who plays a devious Jonas Fogg, the director of the insane asylum, a memorable comic relief performance by sophomore Jason Schissel as Signor Pirelli, and his young lad of a sidekick, Tobias Ragg, ‘Tobi’, played by freshman Allie Gorenc who provided an endearing rendition of “Not While I’m Around”.  

Backstage, Head of Tech, Jason Kole, and Stage Manager/Heads of Props, Jackie Cohn, have worked vigorously on the show’s many technical challenges.

“I believe it’s the largest set we’ve done during a show,” said Kole, a junior, who appeared on stage to take a ride out of the infamous barber chair that he designed.  

Kohn, a senior, noted the speed of the set change, and the fact that it’s a physically heavy set, featuring two bi-level constructions.

The ingenuity of the set design is showcased especially in the second act as the drama heightens and the plot jumps to different settings.

In the end, the cast and crew rose above the challenges and felt prepared for the show.

During a performance last week, however, confidence was compounded by some feelings of anxiety, when students and directors from Rumson Fair-Haven High School showed up to view their competition. RFH had from March 18-20.  

“We’re hoping they showed up to support us but we’re thinking they’re here to spy,” said Grabowski with a smile.  

This May, the schools will go for the jugular at the Count Basie Awards, which recognize excellence in high school theater in Monmouth County.

Last year, Manalapan High School was tapped for “Little Shop of Horrors” and took home Outstanding All Student Orchestra under the direction of teacher Jose Maunez.

“The biggest challenge is getting together the singers and orchestra,” said Maunez about “Sweeney Todd”. “It’s nice and incredible for high school students to be able to do it,” he added.

To stay competitive, Grabowski also enlisted the help of the high school’s fashion and design teacher, Meghan Reeves. Reeves sewed handmade costumes for Mrs. Lovett and Signor Pirelli, among other characters. Johanna’s custom-fitted yellow, Victorian gown was a standout.

Senior Gabrielle Cook, who concludes her experience in musical theater as student director of the show, was pleased with the result. “I’m very impressed that everyone pulled it off the way we did,” she said.  

When asked about the scouts of Rumson Fair-Haven, Cook simply says, “So be it.” She hopes they were impressed, but in the end, it's really up to the Basie judges.

For now, you can be the judge of “Sweeney Todd” and see the show Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday of this week; all performances start at 7:30 P.M. Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 in advance, $5 students/seniors. For more information call 732-792-7200 ext.5134 or visit http://www.mhstheater.com/.