When “Sweeney Todd” opens at Kelsey Theater on Friday, May 29, Ethan Fishbane of West Windsor will play the role of Tobias — a role he has wanted to play for a long time. “In some ways, Tobias is almost like the Shakespearian fool,” he says. “He is the simpleton that no one really pays attention to or thinks much of in this particular world, but he knows and sees all. His words are the purest and most alive and he speaks the truth.”##M:[more]##
Fishbane, a lifelong West Windsor resident, went to Hawk School, Upper Elementary School (now Millstone River), Grover Middle School, and graduated from High School South, Class of 2008. He studies acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts’ Experimental Theater Wing.
“The journey for me has been very organic and my first year of training at NYU has greatly reflected how I found this character,” says Fishbane. “Bits and pieces of my Tobias are bits and pieces of me. I have felt his neglect, lived his frustration, and experienced his aloof indifference. I think that Tobias is the storyteller because his words are those that are true. They have to be true, because he does not have the ability to taint them. There is something so beautiful about that simplicity. I hope the audience can find the beauty behind the sinister plot.”
Combining Stephen Sondheim’s musical score with the twists, turns, and gore of a murder mystery, “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” centers on Benjamin Barker, alias Sweeney Todd, who returns to London after many years in exile. Barker learns from his new landlady, Mrs. Lovett, that his wife poisoned herself after being raped by Judge Turpin, the magistrate who unjustly sent Todd away. Todd’s daughter, Johanna, now lives in misery as the ward of the evil judge. With the aid of Lovett, Todd launches a bloodthirsty campaign to settle the score. None are safe from his wrath and the blood flows. “Sweeney Todd” first came to Broadway in 1979 and won Tony for Best Musical and Best Original Score. Many revivals followed, including a 2005 return to Broadway and a 2007 film starring Johnny Depp.
His mother, Joanne Reiffe Fishbane, is a dentist practicing on Clarksville Road. His father, Richard Fishbane, is a market researcher for dental products. “A match made in heaven,” he says.
“My parents have always loved theater and began sharing this love with me from early on in my life. They have taken me to see numerous Broadway shows, as well as off Broadway, community, and regional productions. Not only were they culturing and educating me from early on, but they created a bond that we will always share. There is nothing I love more than hopping on a train into Manhattan on a summer Saturday and seeing a matinee with my parents,” His sister, Sophia, graduated from WW-P High School, Class of 2000; and his brother, Alex, graduated from South, Class of 2004.
Fishbane took many classes at McCarter Theater throughout his youth. “I loved going there and found a calling for theater that was truly ignited in my later years,” he says. “I think around age 13 I really knew that I wanted to act. Nothing in the world enlivens me as much as performing.” He also studies voice with David John Madore,
During his years at High School South he performed in “A Christmas Carol” as Ebenezer Scrooge; “The Pajama Game” as Anderson; “The Laramie Project” as Jedadiah Schultz, Andy Paris, Stephen Belber, Doug Laws, and Matt Mickelson; “Fools” as a Villager; “A Chorus Line” as a dancer; and “Romeo and Juliet” as Balthazar. He also appeared in South Benefit Production’s of “Blithe Spirit” as Charles Condomine; “Arsenic and Old Lace” as Jonathan Brewster; and “The Importance of Being Earnest” as Algernon.
Fishbane spent two summers at Stagedoor Manor, documented in the film “Camp” featuring the performing arts camp. “The movie greatly dramatizes the reality of a summer spent at Stagedoor,” he says. “It is truly a magnificent place for gifted youth with a passion for the arts and I loved my time there.” He was also cast in two Sondheim shows, “Follies” and “Company” while there.
He portrayed Matt, the lead character in the New Jersey Touring Production of “Bang Bang You’re Dead” and played the part of Ready Money Matt in “The Threepenny Opera” and a harlequin in “La Comedia Del Arte” at Kelsey Theater.
Fishbane can also be seen in “Coming to Agreement,” a film he did for the SAVI organization. “The organization created an instructional film for businesses and organizations interested in studying the method,” he says. “I was cast for one of the three scenarios portrayed and it was a great introduction for me into the film world, however my heart is always remains with stage acting.”
He became enamored with “Sweeney Todd” when he was 14 and has seen several stage productions since. “The first production I ever saw was a community theater production at a small space in Jersey,” he says. “I have since then seen a production at the Arden Theater in Philadelphia.” He also saw the recent Broadway revival twice, once with Patti Lupone, and once with Judy Kaye (who he preferred). “I enjoyed the revival, but I wasn’t in love with Doyle’s vision,” he says.
“This production of Sweeney is much more traditional, which means you get the lovely full orchestral sound which I found myself aching for in the Broadway revival,” Fishbane says. “But the two productions are very different. The revival was small and worked in a different way than our Sweeney works. Our Sweeney is also smaller and less in-your-face,more cerebral than other productions, however we are working with Sondheim’s initial intentions in sound and idea.”
Sweeney Todd, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, 609-570-3333. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Friday, May 29. Tickets are $16. Friday, May 29, to Sunday, June 7.
