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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT, a Newsletter | Friday August 26 2011/Volume 7 | ||
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Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd! The image of a maniacal Todd who hacked and slashed without true motivation or remorse originated in 1846 in the serial, The String of Pearls. This type of fiction—known as the “Penny Dreadfuls,” due to low price and sensationalized content—contained stories that clearly defined good and evil. Other characters in the genre include Jack the Ripper and Varney the Vampire, a precursor to blood sucking heartthrob Bill Compton. This sensationalized version was perpetuated countless times until playwright Christopher Bond reshaped the story in 1973. Bond provides additional motivation for Todd (played by Jamie Jackson at The Gateway) through the loss of his wife Lucy (Jodi Stevens) and his daughter Johanna (Bonnie Fraser) at the hands of Judge Turpin (Bruce Winant). Additionally, Bond changes Mrs. Lovett (Alicia Irving) into both a willing conspirator and a victim, providing another new shift in perspective. These discoveries prompted Sondheim to compare Bond’s Todd to Shakespeare’s Hamlet in a 1982 interview, as they are “people who get destroyed by their need for revenge, in both cases justified.” Although the aforementioned similarity between Sweeney and vampire fiction may seem coincidental, Sondheim’s observation reveals an important parallel. |
In this issue: Now On Stage: |
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BECOME A MEMBER!
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A few words from the producer as the
season comes to a close... On behalf of The Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County, I would like to thank our staff, our company members, our volunteers and, most importantly, our patrons for a season of successful firsts. While The Gateway’s reputation for quality theatre remains, these past few months have given us a glimpse into what The PACSC has to offer. Within this short period, several programs have been launched to help create lasting relationships with our patrons and our community. Once again, a huge thank you to those who contributed to our first annual fundraiser. I am proud to say that this event raised over $10,000 to support our organization’s efforts. To better reflect our values as a non-profit, these efforts now include a renewed commitment to area charities and organizations that could not otherwise participate in the arts. I would also like to say a special thank you to those generous individuals who have joined our contributing membership program. Each tax-deductible donation has a direct impact on the kind of work that we do, both onstage and in our communities. As you can see, this truly has been a groundbreaking season. Here’s to many more! Yours truly, Paul Allan President |
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