A LITTLE OFF THE TOP

Longmont’s Unitiive Theatre presents an immersive take on a macabre masterpiece

BY TONI TRESCA

By now, you might think you know Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street But with the dead rising from all sides, Unitiive Theatre’s immersive production of the horror-musical mainstay puts visitors to the roughly 60-seat Longmont venue right in the middle of the mayhem with its thrust stage setup.

“It is very obvious there is an audience there, so we play that up,” says Kirk Slingluff, who also stage manages and performs stagehand duties in addition to directing the show. “Our version combines elements from interactive experiences, such as haunted houses and immersive theater, with the traditional musical theater form. It allows for some frights while also fostering a sense of community and tenderness.”

Based on the chilling pages of a 19th-century penny dreadful, The String of Pearls, the celebrated musical adaptation by Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler takes the audience on a macabre musical journey through the foggy streets of London in 1785.

The familiar story revolves around a barber who, after spending years falsely imprisoned, decides to return to London to exact revenge on the dishonest judge who destroyed his life. Upon arriving in the city, Sweeney befriends Mrs. Lovett, who owns the pie shop below where he used to live. Together, they go on a murderous rampage, with Sweeney killing victims as he shaves them and Mrs. Lovett turning the dead into meat pies for her customers.

“When Unitiive’s management team realized they had an open slot during Halloween time, this spooky show just felt like the way to go,” Slingluff says. “It’s our first Sondheim piece, and we knew it would come with difficulties, but we really wanted to go after it.”

But for Slingluff and the rest of the team at Unitiive Theatre, founded last year with a focus on education and intimate stagings of big-time shows, that meant turning down some of the play’s more over-the-top elements.

“In musical theater, you normally have a lot of lines to create these sharp, flat stage pictures. I can’t do that because the space is so tight and that would cut off visibility for the audience,” Slingluff says. “We have been focusing on black-box naturalism and how to make it feel as real as possible. The actors are too close to the audience to exaggerate anything without it becoming farcical.”

‘EXPLORE THE HORROR’

Slingluff closely studied the original Broadway cast album in preparation for directing the musical; however, he refused to watch any versions of the story because he didn’t want any other minus the three that don’t die, is in dead makeup. The entire program is, in essence, a horrifying recounting of how these corpses died by the people who were killed and did the killing.”

Once these corpses have been brought back to life, they surround the audience to complete the eerie atmosphere of 18th-century London. Patrons can choose to interact or place a card on their table indicating they’d rather be left alone. Additionally, there is designated “splash zone” seating where brave theatergoers can get up close is the pie shop, up-left is where the oven is for those scenes, and down-left is Mrs. Lovett’s outside eating area, among other things.”

The set had to accommodate both the adult cast and the teen cast, who will be performing on select dates throughout the run. This is Unitiive’s first attempt at double-casting a production with young performers, and they have found that the junior company gives the story a fresh perspective.

“Although they do have some cuts that the adults don’t have, they are doing a fairly faithful version of Sweeney Todd,” Slingluff says. “I have added some little things to help the teens lean into the show’s comedy, while I’ve directed the adults to explore the horror in the musical.” interpretations to influence his artistic vision for the piece. Rather than staging a replica production, Slingluff drew inspiration from the Viennese, Germanlanguage musical Elisabeth, about a woman obsessed with death.

“That show has the dead coming back to tell a story, and that’s what my concept is based on,” he explains. “In the introduction, we’re in an asylum, watching these bodies come back to life from death, so our entire cast, and personal with the bloodshed in their provided custom ponchos.

“Table seating opens up the audience and breaks the barriers that rows of seating can put up,” Slingluff says. “In addition to the immersive elements, our biggest challenge was figuring out how we fit a show that requires so many sets into the space. We have the stage broken up into quadrants; the core quadrants are Sweeney’s barber shop up-right on a platform, down-right

As the dead awaken and the living watch, Sweeney Todd at Unitiive Theatre delivers two interpretations of Sondheim’s dark odyssey about retribution in an interactive setting. By staging a well-known musical in an immersive environment, Slingluff hopes to demonstrate to audiences that theater does not always have to be a passive, complacent experience. Instead, this new production argues, it can be one that engages, excites and evolves.

ON STAGE: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Various times through Oct. 31, The Unitiive Theatre, 800 S. Hover Road, Suite 30, Longmont. $15-$28

GUT-C PRESENTS ‘BODY PARTS’

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, Roser ATLAS Center 100, University of Colorado, 1125 18th St., Boulder. Free

CU’s queer/trans/non-binary/BIPOC/ women filmmakers collective, GUT-C (Give Us The F-ing Camera!), presents Body Parts, the 2022 documentary exposing the reality behind Hollywood’s iconic sex scenes. Stick around after the screening for a Q&A with director Kristy GuevaraFlanagan.

THU.

21

CULINARY FIELD TRIP & COOKING DEMO

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STORIES IN THE DARK

7-8:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, Louisville Historical Museum Courtyard, 1001 Main St. Free

The Boulder Valley Spellbinders and the Louisville Historical Museum present a night of spooky local stories under the stars. This event is for those ages 6 and up, and audiences are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.

20

Q BBQ FEST BOULDER

10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21, Folsom Field, 2400 Colorado Ave., Boulder. $20

The Q BBQ Festival brings one of the largest BBQ showcases to Boulder with expert pitmasters from across the country. Enjoy live music, food and beverages, and live BBQ demonstrations on Boulder’s iconic Folsom Field.

20

VAMPIRES VS. WEREWOLVES: A DRAG SHOW

8-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, DV8 Distillery, 2480 49th St., Boulder. Free

Join host Mo Whoremoans at DV8 Distillery for a Halloween-themed drag show with performers Void Phlux, Wizic, Comet Sans, Maldicion and Calder Goodlay. They’ll give “slay” a new meaning in an update on the classic rivalry between vampires and werewolves.

8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 21, Boulder Farmers Market, 13th St. $10

Ever wonder how a chef shops?

Chef Daniel Asher of Working Title Food Group invites you on a field trip through the Boulder Farmers Market where he’ll select the freshest and finest ingredients for a public cooking demo at the First Bite booth. 21

THE TUNE UP TAVERN COMEDY SHOW

7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Full Cycle Bikes & Colorado Multisport, 2355 30th St., Boulder. $5

Life is funnier on two wheels, so grab your bike and head to the newly renovated Full Cycle Bikes & Colorado Multisport for a night of comedy. Whether you’re a diehard cyclist or just a fan of stand-up, you won’t want to miss this night of food, drinks and laughs.

MOLLIE MCGEE’S ANNUAL FALL CRAFT MARKET

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 & Sunday, Oct. 22, Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont. $5

If you’re looking to get a jump on holiday shopping or find that one-ofa-kind piece to complete your home decor, you’ll find items from 150 local vendors at Mollie McGee’s annual craft showcase and sale. Ticket cost includes entry to both days of the market.

CIDER SERENADE

3-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, BOCO Cider, 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Unit 14, Boulder. $10

The Colorado Association of Music Therapy presents a fundraiser to help further their mission to “educate community members and fellow healthcare professionals about the benefits of music therapy.” Local cider, live music and silent auctions are just a taste of what’s on the menu.

Events

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SKA-LLOWEEN PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST

6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, William Oliver’s Lafayette, 201 North Public Road, Unit C. $12

Show off your pumpkin carving skills while sipping on a Ska Oktoberfest at William Oliver’s in Lafayette. Prize categories include scariest, funniest and most original pumpkin. One beer, one pumpkin and carving materials are provided with your ticket.

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LEFTOWEEN

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22, Left Hand Brewing Company, 1245 Boston Ave., Longmont. $20

Join Left Hand Brewing Company for carnival games, live music, oracle readings and more during this Halloween-themed event in The Garden. Strut your stuff to take home top costume while enjoying food truck fare and plenty of craft libations. Ages 12 and under get in free.

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF LOCAL POLITICS

6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, City of Longmont Public Library, 409 4th Ave. Free

The BIPOC Alliance partners with Colorado 50/50 and support from Boulder Young Democrats to bring a non-partisan panel of local elected officials to the Longmont Public Library, where they will discuss their journey in local politics and how to reform the system at the local level.

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SOUNDBATH CONCERT

6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, The StarHouse, 3476 Sunshine Canyon Drive, Boulder. $45

Local Musician Tommy Dill hosts this 360 degree spatial live healing audio experience in collaboration with Blackrose and The StarHouse. The sound healing journey will last around 90 minutes. Yoga mats, cushions, and blankets will be provided.