Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

The show I am reporting on is the amazingly brilliant Sweeney Todd.  I saw this in my high school years (sophomore or junior year) and fell in love with it. The show goes like this: a middle-aged barber returns from travelling the world with a young man.  He wants to see his beloved but discovers from a woman who runs a pie shop that she had taken poison and that her daughter now is the ward of the Judge.  After conspiring with the woman and opening a barber shop, he runs crazy and goes on a killing spree, allowing Mrs. Lovett to become successful using the human meat.  After a bunch of singing, consipiring, and competition, Sweeney ends up getting his revenge, kills his wife-Mrs. Lovett and allows a young boy to kill him.  His daughter and the young lad he travelled with escape in love with each other and that is the tale of Sweeney Todd.

This musical masterpiece was directed by Harold Prince, with music and lyrics being written by Steven Sondheim.  It first came into play on March 1, 1979 and had five hundred fifty seven runs.  In more modern times, this masterpiece has been turned into a musical fim by none-other than another amazing director, Tim Burton.  He employed Johnny Depp to play Sweeney Todd and Helen Bonham-Carter (his wife) to play Mrs. Nellie Lovett.  This is what most people now-a-days think of when they hear Sweeney Todd.

A theme of Sweeney Todd?  A humorous lesson learned is that human flesh sells well and is in complete abundance.  A serious lesson learned is that wronging another human being for your own selfish reasons will always come back and get you.  Though this story is centered on the barber and his life, the whole mess could have been avoided if the judge had not abused his power to unlawfully send the barber away from his young wife and daughter because he was jealous of the young barber having a beautiful wife.

I like this musical for multiple reasons though none are from personal experieces.  It appeals to my sick sense of humor and my fascination with gore.  I like the darker tone of the musical, no happy ending that is of a major character, not to mention the progression of calm insanity.  I also like this musical for its music and composition.  There is just something about the music that makes shivers run down my spine, dark thoughts form in my head, and a sadistic thrill take to my blood.  I guess it is just that type of work that allows you to enjoy your darker side and not be judged for it.  Besides, the music and story are catching..."Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd!"