Acting can be a cut-throat business but the cast of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street complemented each other wonderfully in a superb opening night at The Green Room in Carlisle on Monday.
Director Jason Munn transformed the 1960s play into a captivating production that transported its audience back in time to 19th-century London, thanks in part to the impressive work of set designer, Sarah Waters.
The play tells the story of Sweeney Todd, the infamous barber and killer who, with the assistance of Lily Lovett, bakes his victims into meat pies.
And those who attend the play this week can buy pies in the foyer from local business Pie Demand, to ensure a fully immersive experience, provided you can stomach the murder on show.
Lucy Harrison, playing young apprentice Tobias Ragg, was the first to appear on stage, donning the pauper look for which young boys in Victorian England are perhaps best recognised.
But their timid, quiet character would quickly make way for Charlie Raine, who dominated the stage with a powerful performance as the eponymous lead.
Raine perfectly portrayed the combination of chaotic energy and charm which is often seen in mass murderers, leaving the audience constantly wondering what he would do next.
Jack Smith, playing seaman Mark Ingestrie, would also excel in creating a snobby, love-struck character who is certain to surprise the audience.
His passion for Joanna Oakley, portrayed by Aimee Southwood, is charming for the romantic, but a little desperate for the cynic.
Aidan Dawson as Aminadab Lupin represented another thoroughly unlikeable character, although that is a testament to the young man's portrayal of the role, which served well to get the audience on Sweeney's side.
In fact, his love for Lily Lovett's meat and gravy pies was perhaps the only thing he did or said which I agreed with.
As the first act drew to a close, it should be noted that the programme mentioned a trigger warning for a gunshot, but made no reference to the sharp objects, fake blood, flashing lights, and sexual abuse.
The second act moved a little slower than the first, with perhaps too much time dedicated to a game of Snakes and Ladders which did little to progress the plot.
Lily Lovett, portrayed by Andrea Baugh, represented a weak-willed assistant to Todd, although she was effective in providing comic relief, especially in her flirtations with both Lupin and Ingestrie.
And spoiler alert - the oven in her bakery would provide a real highlight.
As the play approached the denouement, things would ramp up and there was a thrilling and hectic final 20 minutes which featured a number of new characters, murders, and plot twists.
I truly had no idea how things would end but the final act was a satisfying and eye-catching one, with Southwood's passionate performance a relief after the first act suggested that she would be little more than a love interest.
Given the cast had just five weeks of rehearsal time, compared to a normal six, this was a well-put-together play with no slip-ups, which made excellent use of a brilliant set.
For any fans of horror, or indeed pies, Munn's marvellous production is a must-see.
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