Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Spooky season is just around the corner, and a dark fog is rolling into the National Arts Centre (NAC). After receiving rave reviews in its 2023 run, Paper Moon Theatre Company is bringing Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to the NAC stages. The gruesome, thrilling and darkly comedic Stephen Sondheim show has a huge fan following that is bound to excite Ottawa audiences. We chatted with Peter Graves, who plays the leading role, to learn more about this highly anticipated production.
Apt613: The show from Paper Moon was performed last year at Algonquin College’s theatre – what was the journey to take the show to the NAC a year later? How did it come about?
Peter Graves: Admittedly I have limited knowledge of how this past year played out leading to this opportunity to perform Sweeney Todd at the NAC. However, there were hints shortly after last year’s show that there was interest in doing the show again in a bigger venue with a bigger vision. I had no idea at the time that the venue would be this significant. Though, I heard from so many people last year who said the show deserved to be on a bigger stage, which I agree with completely.
Apt613: Do you approach the role differently this time around? Is there anything you learned from the previous run or that you are hoping to adapt for the new venue?
PG: I definitely have a different approach this year. One is because another year of theatre/acting experience gives me more tools to work with, but the big reason is because of the different actors I am working with this time around. A lot of the cast is returning but several key roles in the show have changed and they bring their own vision of their character to the stage. So it’s only natural that my own character changes to vibe with the new personalities. Funny enough, even things like the vision for my hair/make-up plays a role too.
Sweeney Todd. Photo provided.
Apt613: The size of the stage and backstage areas must be very different from the last production – does the show and company have to do a lot to adapt the performance?
PG: I think from a stage and backstage standpoint, what you are going to see this year is what was not possible last year. More stage to work with means more stage elements to bring even more life to many key scenes, it means a bigger cast and the excitement of dreaming bigger to make this show even more epic!
Apt613: For audiences who saw last year’s production, why should they come see the NAC performances? What do you think will entice new audiences to the production?
PG: I have been alluding to this already but this year’s production was made for the NAC! The new ideas that have been designed/described have the cast giddy with excitement and we haven’t even seen any pictures of it. Yes, it is the same story but everything from the orchestra, stage elements, sound effects, props and special effects are at another level.
Apt613: Sweeney Todd is a dark but very powerful story. What do you hope audiences take away from this production?
PG: Certainly I would love it if people left the show saying that this was the best musical production they have seen, but there is also another important takeaway. There is immense talent here in Ottawa and I hope this bold step by Paper Moon Theatre Company will spur on many more high-level shows at the NAC that are produced and performed by the great talent that this city boasts. You shouldn’t always have to look outside of Ottawa to put on a big show in the nation’s capital.
Paper Moon Theatre Company’s production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street runs from Oct. 3-5 with 7pm performances. A matinee performance plays at 1pm on the 5th. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street runs for three hours with one intermission. Tickets start at $89.
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