NEVER has murder been more gruesome than in the Garrick’s musical, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

To use a pun, the cast make mincemeat of Stephen Sondheim's difficult, strident music and the professional direction of Paul Kerryson, ensures the ‘playhouse’ maintains its reputation for good musicals.

Sweeney Todd, played forcefully by Wayne Holt, really is a demon. He’s a menacing presence but can win you over with his deep baritone voice.

Let him shave you at your peril – for you will end up travelling dead down a brilliantly contrived shoot, to the baker’s shop below.

You’ll become the main ingredient of one of the comical Mrs Lovett’s delicious pies. When Laura Chandler sings The Worst Pies in London, it adds spice to her concoctions.

A third employee is kitchen assistant, Tobias Ragg. Joseph Dillon, 16, who has a lovely voice, plays him as naïve and almost driven mad by what he sees in the business-like death factory around him.

The murdering starts because Sweeney wants to avenge Paul Wilson’s unfeeling and lecherous Judge Turpin who wrongfully exiled him. Worse still, Turpin’s the guardian of Joanna, Sweeney’s daughter.

It is Sara Grace Nelson who, as Joanna, sings one of the show’s most beautiful songs, Green Finch and Linnett Bird.

The Mark Goggins orchestra are good but, occasionally, overpower the singers. Despite this, it’s another five star production for the Garrick.

*Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street is at Altrincham Garrick until Saturday, October 15. For tickets telephone 0161 928 1677 or visit the Garrick’s website. Star rating: * * * * *