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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Friedman finally gets his
Demon Barber<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Although delayed a
year, Lakeland director produces <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sweeney
Todd</I><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3>News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
2</I>/6/09</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Stephen Sondheim’s morose musical <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sweeney Todd</I> is all about the body
count.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One by one, the population
of 19<SUP>th</SUP> century London is reduced at the hands of a homicidal barber
out to revenge his wrongful imprisonment and the destruction of his family.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Each assault with a straight-edge razor
is accompanied by Sondheim’s </SPAN><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN">sophisticated</SPAN><SPAN
lang=EN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">lyrics and operatic score that haunt
like a recurring nightmare.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>In quite a different way,
the Lakeland Community College production of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sweeney Todd,</I> which premieres on
February 6, is also all about the body count.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The show was originally
scheduled to open February of last year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Shortly after assembling an ensemble of some of the area’s most
sought-after performers and production personnel, director Martin Friedman
entered the hospital for emergency open heart surgery.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rehearsals were cancelled, the show was
put on indefinite hiatus, and it was recommended that the cast and crew find
work elsewhere.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>One year later, Friedman
is back doing <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sweeney Todd</I> and nearly
everybody from the original cast and crew has signed on for another stab at this
intriguing show.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Actor Dan Folino, who
takes on the title role, offers an explanation for his return that also serves
to define this upcoming production: “Martin is one of those directors who truly
hate predictable and drab theatre.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He lets me play around with my character so that Sweeney doesn't become
the sociopathic cold blooded killer that he is usually made out to be.”
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Being encouraged to
develop complex characters, such as a sympathetic Sweeney, is one explanation
for these actors’ devotion to this production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Another is </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Friedman’s
belief that music is central to the storytelling in a musical.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the recent Tim Burton film version of
</SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Sweeney Todd,</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
and in some stage productions, only a portion of the original 27 musical numbers
are included.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not so in the LCC
production.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For Friedman, “what is
said and sung in a musical is paramount… more than sets, more than
scenery.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">This
would also serve to explain why Friedman -- unlike Burton -- cast actors who can
actually sing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact, they sing
wonderfully and include </SPAN><SPAN class=yshortcuts><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Alison
Garrigan as Sweeney’s sadistic sidekick Mrs. Lovette, Connor O’Brien as the
young sailor Anthony Hope, and Lakeland alumnus </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Lindsey
Sandham as Sweeney’s daughter J</SPAN><SPAN class=yshortcuts><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">ohanna.</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The 13-member ensemble is stacked
with vocal talent.</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Also unlike the movie,
which graphically embellishes each and every act of aggression, Friedman has
chosen the cobblestone road less travelled by minimizing the gore and exploring
the ramifications of the violence for the characters.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">“Sure,
there’s blood,” he admits.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“After
all, Sweeney kills seven people on stage, which needs to be visually compelling
and explicit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But the blood should
complement the story, not be the story.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Friedman’s own
explanation for why he decided to return to <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sweeney Todd</I> after a year-long
interruption and his own brush with mortality is surprisingly simple:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“It is the one Stephen Sondheim musical
I had not yet tackled and always wanted to do.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s his greatest play.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had to do this
show.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3>Details<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></I></SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Sweeney
Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">W</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">hen: <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>February 6 through February 22
(Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sunday Matinees, 2
p.m.).<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; TEXT-INDENT: -1in"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Where:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lakeland Theatre, 7700 Clocktower
Drive, Kirtland.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Tickets:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>$</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">13
for adults, $11 for seniors and $5 for students</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Info:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">440)
525-7526 or email </SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><A href=""
target=_blank><SPAN
style="COLOR: #003399; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">martinfriedman98@yahoo.com</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>