REVIEWS

Meredyth Rawlins gives an energetic and well-appreciated performance of Mrs. Lovett, the bawdy, outspoken accomplice to Sweeney in the bizarre pie shop…Truly the hottest number in the production is this talented pair’s duet, “A little Priest.

Honors for ‘getting the words clear’ go to Meredyth Rawlins, who as Little Buttercup must tackle lines such as ‘I’ve snuff and tobaccy and excellent jacky.’ Hard to fathom but it made perfect sense 100 years ago, and Rawlins makes it make sense even today.

Rawlins had a fine voice and knew exactly how this kind of music is supposed to be delivered.  Rawlins had a clarity and certainty in her singing that enhanced the episodes written for contralto – most especially O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion and the familiar He shall feed his flock, which was truly beautiful.

As Ruth, the pirate maid whose mistake it was to apprentice Frederic to a pirate rather than a pilot, Meredyth Rawlins performed at a level of solid competence noticeably higher than her comrades.  Rawlins’ sturdy voice and matronly bearing – she alone had no need to camp up the role – stood out particularly.

Rawlins is a mezzo – not the voice for whom most of the songs on the program were composed, but her ease and confidence made the lower transpositions of the music attractive.  Her obvious enjoyment of singing all these songs was infectious…. with Rawlins giving a very beautiful interpretation of Come to me from Brigadoon.