Recently saw the new production of Sweeney Todd. And while anyone who knows me knows that I have a rather low threshold for musical theater, I will always make an exception for things of the dark and brooding variety, especially where multiple throat-slashings and the pouring of buckets of blood are involved. Sweet.

The interesting thing about this production is that the actors/singers and the orchestra are one and the same. Meaning, every cast member is also an instrumentalist who takes turns playing when not singing or involved in the action taking place on stage. Sometimes the instruments themselves are integrated into the action, and sometimes not.

Sounds weird, but with the exception of a very few awkward moments (which will probably be cleared up since I believe it