(April 2024; Dr. Phillips Performing Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando FL) This weekend’s performances of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (April 11-13, 2024) at Dr. Phillips was part of University of Central Florida’s 10th annual ‘UCF Celebrates the Arts’ series, and was executed to asuch a high standard it could have easily been lifted straight out of Orlando and transplanted directly into New York City’s Broadway theatre district.
I have had the fortunate experience to watch Les Miserables in London, Phantom of the Opera in Madrid, Lion King in St. Louis, and multiple shows in NYC both ‘on’ and ‘off’ Broadway. With skeptical excitement, I was curious to see just what caliber of show I would be exposed to if ‘a bunch of college students’ from central Florida were performing one of the most popular current musicals in the world: how sophisticated could our sets get, could this local production execute the complicated lighting / make-up / blocking and other technical aspects of this complex show, how elaborate could the costumes appear, and how talented were these performers possibly going to be?
UCF’s production was amazing in all aspects. Every intricate detail of this show was executed to the most professional level. Quite honestly, I was impressed with EVERY voice that I heard tonight. From hopeless romantic character portrayal of ‘Anthony’ (played by UCF’s Joseph Trewin), whose mesmerizing rendition of ‘Johanna’ was breathtaking with his strong upper-registers landing effortlessly as he floated the audience through his heart and soul. Character Johanna Barker (played by UCF’s Amy Lacey) delivered on a very powerful operatic performance of ‘Green Finch and Linnet Bird’, making me wish I could hear the actress perform in the role of Phantom of the Opera’s ‘Christine’.
Bad guy ‘Judge Turpin’ (played by UCF’s Zachary Racine) was creepy and kept me rooting for his demise, with me actually clapping in my seat once he ‘became a customer’ of Sweeney Todd’s. Arrogant extortionist Adolfo Pirelli (played by Jeremy Hunt) was acted well, and truly kept me annoyed at the character. Both actors, Racine and Hunt, did very well to make us hate these characters, delivering very strong antagonists onto the stage this evening.
‘Beggar woman’ (played by UCF’s Gabriella Headley) had several opportunities to make the audience laugh, and she capitalized on every one of those, able to flip rapidly from sweet old beggar woman to the street-smart conniver that kept the audience on edge this evening, not knowing which side of her would come out during the scenes! She was very comedic throughout the night, and I actually felt a loss in her final scene.
‘Tobias Ragg’ (played by UCF’s Mackenzie Prince) was able to showcase the full spectrum of his character’s personality, evolving from innocent apprentice, to naïve assistant, until ultimately he was a man pushed over the edge. Prince’s ‘Not While I’m Around’ was sweet and tender, making the audience fully empathize and fall in love with him. He is a very talented actor, and I’m thrilled he was able to exhibit his personal range through this character’s role.
UCF’s Johnny Flannagan played tonight’s named lead of Sweeney Todd. Flannagan had one of the most memorable voices I recall having heard on stage. He had a very gritty bass tonality to his voice – very distinct, and his voice alone exuded such a power that the audience felt were at his mercy at times, wanting to ensure that no one crossed into the Demon Barber’s bad side. Flannagan will definitely be one to follow as he embarks on his musical theatre career!
And then there was UCF’s Manuella Guerra Canal, who stole the show through her commanding portrayal of ‘Mrs. Lovett’. EVERY single interaction and line she delivered on stage evoked a response – whether it was an inner emotion or feeling, or an outright burst of laughter. Canal’s acting was highly dynamic. She was loveable and likeable, even as her character was sliding into dark side of pie-making. Even as a criminal accomplice, she compelled me to still cheer for this character even throughout her deteriorating moral evolution, in large part due to the exceptional acting skills by Canal. At any given moment, she would effortlessly burst into song, and her voice would just carry – she had a beautiful voice, and at times you wouldn’t even notice that she was skillfully jumping between singing and speaking. Tonight, the stage was hers, and I was just very happy to be along for the ride!
UCF clearly demonstrated that they are developing some very serious acting and singing talent on the east side of Orlando. If Sweeney Todd serves as any barometer of their theatrical program, aspiring future and current Fine Arts students will want to take immediate notice because by all counts, tonight’s show was at the pinnacle of professionalism by all measures. On stage this evening, we were all teleported into a very dark world of the Demon Barber, but we were all enlightened in terms of seeing the very bright futures that lie ahead for these aspiring performers. I look forward to attending the next productions from this UCF group, and am very excited to begin following each of these actors’ careers moving ahead!
Bailey Guinigundo
I have had the fortunate experience to watch Les Miserables in London, Phantom of the Opera in Madrid, Lion King in St. Louis, and multiple shows in NYC both ‘on’ and ‘off’ Broadway. With skeptical excitement, I was curious to see just what caliber of show I would be exposed to if ‘a bunch of college students’ from central Florida were performing one of the most popular current musicals in the world: how sophisticated could our sets get, could this local production execute the complicated lighting / make-up / blocking and other technical aspects of this complex show, how elaborate could the costumes appear, and how talented were these performers possibly going to be?
UCF’s production was amazing in all aspects. Every intricate detail of this show was executed to the most professional level. Quite honestly, I was impressed with EVERY voice that I heard tonight. From hopeless romantic character portrayal of ‘Anthony’ (played by UCF’s Joseph Trewin), whose mesmerizing rendition of ‘Johanna’ was breathtaking with his strong upper-registers landing effortlessly as he floated the audience through his heart and soul. Character Johanna Barker (played by UCF’s Amy Lacey) delivered on a very powerful operatic performance of ‘Green Finch and Linnet Bird’, making me wish I could hear the actress perform in the role of Phantom of the Opera’s ‘Christine’.
Bad guy ‘Judge Turpin’ (played by UCF’s Zachary Racine) was creepy and kept me rooting for his demise, with me actually clapping in my seat once he ‘became a customer’ of Sweeney Todd’s. Arrogant extortionist Adolfo Pirelli (played by Jeremy Hunt) was acted well, and truly kept me annoyed at the character. Both actors, Racine and Hunt, did very well to make us hate these characters, delivering very strong antagonists onto the stage this evening.
‘Beggar woman’ (played by UCF’s Gabriella Headley) had several opportunities to make the audience laugh, and she capitalized on every one of those, able to flip rapidly from sweet old beggar woman to the street-smart conniver that kept the audience on edge this evening, not knowing which side of her would come out during the scenes! She was very comedic throughout the night, and I actually felt a loss in her final scene.
‘Tobias Ragg’ (played by UCF’s Mackenzie Prince) was able to showcase the full spectrum of his character’s personality, evolving from innocent apprentice, to naïve assistant, until ultimately he was a man pushed over the edge. Prince’s ‘Not While I’m Around’ was sweet and tender, making the audience fully empathize and fall in love with him. He is a very talented actor, and I’m thrilled he was able to exhibit his personal range through this character’s role.
UCF’s Johnny Flannagan played tonight’s named lead of Sweeney Todd. Flannagan had one of the most memorable voices I recall having heard on stage. He had a very gritty bass tonality to his voice – very distinct, and his voice alone exuded such a power that the audience felt were at his mercy at times, wanting to ensure that no one crossed into the Demon Barber’s bad side. Flannagan will definitely be one to follow as he embarks on his musical theatre career!
And then there was UCF’s Manuella Guerra Canal, who stole the show through her commanding portrayal of ‘Mrs. Lovett’. EVERY single interaction and line she delivered on stage evoked a response – whether it was an inner emotion or feeling, or an outright burst of laughter. Canal’s acting was highly dynamic. She was loveable and likeable, even as her character was sliding into dark side of pie-making. Even as a criminal accomplice, she compelled me to still cheer for this character even throughout her deteriorating moral evolution, in large part due to the exceptional acting skills by Canal. At any given moment, she would effortlessly burst into song, and her voice would just carry – she had a beautiful voice, and at times you wouldn’t even notice that she was skillfully jumping between singing and speaking. Tonight, the stage was hers, and I was just very happy to be along for the ride!
UCF clearly demonstrated that they are developing some very serious acting and singing talent on the east side of Orlando. If Sweeney Todd serves as any barometer of their theatrical program, aspiring future and current Fine Arts students will want to take immediate notice because by all counts, tonight’s show was at the pinnacle of professionalism by all measures. On stage this evening, we were all teleported into a very dark world of the Demon Barber, but we were all enlightened in terms of seeing the very bright futures that lie ahead for these aspiring performers. I look forward to attending the next productions from this UCF group, and am very excited to begin following each of these actors’ careers moving ahead!
Bailey Guinigundo
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