YOUNG ARTISTS ABLY FILL MEATY ROLES IN `SWEENEY TODD, DEMON BARBER'.

Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News

Revenge is tasty for Sweeney Todd, the dastardly demon barber whose enemies become meat pies.

From such a devilish premise, Stephen Sondheim and the immensely talented and ambitious Young Artists Ensemble present a funny but dark musical comedy set in 19th century England.

``Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street'' is full of destitute street characters, corrupt officials and lunatics. It's a zesty romp from the preshow mingling of the play's characters with the audience to the lively, ironic ending when justice wins out.

Sweeney Todd (a powerful performance by Eric Martin, who was in command of his role and his voice from beginning to end) is falsely accused and imprisoned for years by Judge Turpin. Finally released, Sweeney comes home to London looking for his beautiful wife and young daughter.

He is greeted by Mrs. Lovett, the delightful and comically vivacious Jessica Piranian. The owner of a meat pie shop, Mrs. Lovett was a friend of Sweeney's wife and has saved Sweeney's barber tools.

She relates that his wife was raped by the wicked Judge Turpin (played with subtle malevolence by John Gabriel Koladziej). The wife subsequently poisoned herself, and Turpin adopted Sweeney's daughter, Johanna, as his own.

Sweeney vows revenge, and after he kills his first victim - the blackmailing barber Pirelli, rendered with flair by Kelsey Ryan - finds Mrs. Lovett to be inventive.

Always looking for meat for her pies and resigned to using cats and mice, she suggests grinding up Pirelli. One of the musical's highlights is the hilarious duet she and Sweeney sing about the varying tastes of pies, depending upon the dead body's former profession.

All is not dark and dire. There's a successful love story between the young sailor Anthony Hope, played with dash by Brian Purcell, and the hapless Johanna, the sweet-voiced Nissa Wright.

Standout character portrayals include James Daniel Roberts as Tobias Ragg, Eric Matthew Brown as Beadle Bamford, and Liana Allday as a Beggar Woman. Sweeney's deceased wife is appealingly played by Sara L. Quick. Jody Bennett gives a capable performance as Dr. Jonas Fogg.

The company - as market girls, policemen, prostitutes, servants, chimney sweeps, lunatics, etc. - is filled with exciting, energetic talent.

It includes Christopher Vasquez, Stephen Torres, Nick Lange, Nick Newkirk, Shamus, Brian West, Marisa Garcia, Christina Harding, Elise Levy, Lynda A.H. Paul, Sarah J. Wilson, Adam Traub, Allyson Michelle Dreyfuss, Morgan Lindsey Tachco, Ashley Yegan, Ryan Hayes, Megan Pryor, Erez Lev-On, Chris Chambers, Betsy Brewer, Adam Tafoya, Adam Penman, Lauren Dickey, Denise Packard, Niki Foster, Sarah Grace Beaton, Julia Lees-Smith and Kristy Schroer.

Music, under the direction of Dan Redfeld and conducted by Michael Stanley, was rendered by guest artists and members of the Moorpark and Thousand Oaks high school bands.

Commendation is due Mark Andrew Reyes, who designed the sets and directed the production; Crystal M. St. Romain for her imaginative costumes; and Scott Buchanan for producing this ambitious piece.

THE FACTS

WHAT: ``Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,'' book by Hugh Wheeler, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. nightly through Sunday.

WHERE: Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Forum Theatre.

COST: Adults $12; students, seniors and children $10.

INFORMATION: [phone].