Get a haircut, get your head sliced off. Cannibalistic meat pies are on the menu, set to the musical styling of Sweeney Todd; the Demon Barber of Fleet Street performed by NIC’s Classical Cabaret at Bakery by the Lake Wednesday, April 27.
This annual event, a part of the NIC Singers’ Cabaret Series, provides voice students the opportunity to showcase a song selection of their choice.
This year, the cabaret members chose to collaborate on a theme for the event. Selections from the macabre 1979 musical Sweeney Todd were on the agenda for a majority of the classical cabaret students performing.
“A student was already working on a Sweeney Todd piece last summer and throughout the year more and more people jumped on board. Much of the work was done in the last few months before the show,” said Jesse Hampsch, 19, music, Gilbert, Arizona. “Sweeney Todd is a favorite of many students in the voice studio as well as with Andrea Dawson and our accompanist, Carolyn Jess. Stephen Sondheim is a brilliant composer who really brings the story to life with his music.”
Voice lesson students performed eleven songs from Sweeney Todd, but many chose pieces other than those from the musical. Artists such as Andrew Lloyd Webber, Antonia Cesti, John Jacob Niles, Molley Carew, and Andre/Scwandt/Kahn wrote songs included in this year’s classical cabaret performance.
“I love the songs. There is a nice variety and a very good skill level displayed. I am very happy with the hour and a half spent,” said audience member Clyde Mooney, 19, Coeur d’Alene, undecided. Mooney attended the Cabaret’s performance last year and “came back for a good time that can be expected.”
Beginning with “Pie Jesu,” sung by Katrina V. Uribe and instructor Andrea Dawson, and ending with “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” performed by Duncan Menzies, the performance highlighted many favorites from the musical.
Wes Sanders sang the duet “Pretty Women” along with Shane Gardner. This song highlights the beauty and charm that pretty women hold, turning men into “ardent and eager slaves.” “A Little Priest,” sung by Jessica Peterson and Andrew Steiner, discusses various members of clergy and their merits as delicious meat pies.
“The overall performance went very smoothly. We had a few blips in the final number, but we were having fun and I think the audience felt that,” Hampsch said. “I loved this experience. Musical theater is a wonderful thing and always a joy to participate in. Everyone worked really hard to bring it all together and it turned out great. I can’t wait for whatever we do next!”
