Back to Sweeney Todd revival

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Synopsis(From revival cast recording booklet) The curtain rises on a spare, run-down madhouse bordered by straight-backed chairs. Upstage is a towering shelf of Victorian bric-a-brac and a doorway, through which a warden appears and approaches Tobias, seated in a chair,straightjacketed and gagged. The warden removes the restraints and Tobias sings The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, joined by the ensemble. Sweeney Todd rises from a black coffin center stage, and the tale begins.

Todd has recently been rescued at sea by Anthony Hope, a fresh-faced young sailor, and they have returned to London. They are accosted by an addled beggar woman, who propositions them and is rebuffed. Sweeney expresses his virulent disdain for the social order (No Place Like London). He and Anthony part ways, Sweeney in search of his wife and child who he hasn't seen in years.

In a shop in Fleet Street, Todd meets Nellie Lovett, purveyor of The Worst Pies in London. Mrs. Lovett relates the story of Benjamin Barker, and unfortunate barber who had the shop above her own until Judge Turpin had him transported for life to Australia on a trumped-up charge. The judge then took advantage of the Barker's wife, Lucy who poisoned herself in despair (Poor Thing). Lovett recognizes Todd as Barker. He vows to avenge himself on the judge, who now how Todd's teenage daughter, Johanna, as his ward. Lovett doubts Todd's ability to get at the judge, but reveals that she has preserved his beautiful silver-straight razors (My friends.) The ensemble cheers his vengeful urges (The ballad of Sweeney Todd).

Johanna, meanwhile, is confined in Turpin's house. She notices a passing bird-seller and recognizes her kinship with his caged pets (Green Finch and Linnet Bird). Anthony wanders by, sees Johanna in the window, and tries to get her attention (Ah, Miss). Just as Johanna notices him, the beggar woman reappears and tells Anthony the identify of the object of his fascination. Anthony nevertheless preservers and sings of his love for Johanna. The judge and his henchman, the Beadle, appear and warn him off, but Anthony vows to free her. The judge chases Johanna back inside.

In the marketplace Aldolpho Pirelli, a babrer, is hawking his tonsorial services and patent hair restorer with the help of his juvenile assistant, Tobias Rigg (Pirelli's Miracle Elixir). Todd and Mrs. Lovett proclaim the elixir to be a sham mixture of piss and ink. Pirelli is offended and Todd challenges him to a shaving competition (The Contest), to be judged by the Beadle. Todd wins handily and suggests that the Beadle come to his shop for a complimentary shave ( The Ballad of Sweeney Todd).

Back in his house, Judge Turpin lewdly fantasizes about Johanna. She appears, and he proclaims his desire to marry her. She is repelled.

In Fleet Street, Todd has set up his shop, including a barber's chair. The beggar woman appears but Mrs. Lovett chases her away. Sweeney is eager for the Beadle to come, Lovett urges him to be patient and Wait. Anthony arrives and informs them that he intends to kidnap and marry Johanna. Todd and Lovett are overjoyed and invite him to loge her at the shop while he arranges an escape from the city. Anthony departs for the Judge's house. Pirelli and Tobias make an unexpected visit. In private, Pirelli reveals that he, too, is playing a part: he had been a poor Irish apprentice in Todd's barbershop many years ago. He attempts to blackmail Todd, threatening to reveal his true identify to the judge. In a rage, Todd slits Pirelli's throat and hides the body.

While the judge is in court, Anthony attempts to connivance Johanna to flee with him(Kiss Me). Meanwhile the judge tells the Beadle of his own plans for marrying Johanna, and the Beadle persuades him to visit Todd's tonorial parlor so as not to offend Ladies in the Sensitivities. Anthony and Johanna formulate their escape strategy (Kiss Me).

In the shop, Mrs. Lovett distracts Tobias and discovers that Todd has killed Pirelli. The Judge arrives. Sweeney is delighted and then appalled when the judge tells him of his plans to marry Johanna. Rather than kill the judge immediately, Todd delays in order to enjoy the pleasure of his revenge. Together, he and the judge extol the virtues of Pretty Women. Just as Sweeney is about to slit the judges throat, Anthony barges in, obliviously. blurting out his own plan for Johanna. Judge Turpin is aghast and storms out. Todd, furious, banishes Anthony. Mrs. Lovett attempts to calms Sweeney, but he snaps completely. Alternately ranting and keening his Epiphany in that "they all deserve to die." Ever pragmatic, Lovett suggest that they use the anticipated pile of corpses as fodder for her business(A Little Priest).

Act II begins with Todd and Mrs. Lovett's plan in full swing, with the pie shop business booming and Todd adjusting his barber's chair (in the form of a small white coffin) which sends his victims hurling to the cellars below (God, That's Good!). Tobias has been employed as Lovett's assistant, and Sweeney is upstairs, serenely and mechanically disposing of his customers. Separately, Todd and Anthony yearn for Johanna, while the Beggar Woman decries the evil stench coming from Mrs. Lovett's ovens. The Beadle informs Anthony that Judge Turpin has had Johanna committed to Jonna Fogg's insane asylum.

Todd and Mrs. Lovett attempt to relax after a long work day. She expresses he desire for a house By The Sea. Todd is still obsessed with revenge by the judge when Anthony interrupts with the news about Johanna. Sweeney instructs him on how to infiltrate the asylum by posing as a wig-maker buying hair. Anthony leaves and Sweeney betrays him by writing a letter to the judge, revealing his plan and inviting him to surprise Anthony at Todd's pie shop upon his return.

In the pie shop, Tobias naively pledges to protect Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney's evil tendencies and she attempts to calm him while reciprocating (Not While I'm Around). Tobias discovers the deceased Pirelli's purse, and Mrs. Lovett distracts him by offering to show him the cellar bakehouse. She locks him in just as the Beadle arrives to to communicate neighborhood complaints about the stench emanating from her chimney. Hoping to appease him. she joins him in singing parlor songs. Todd enters and offers the beadle a shave, then quickly disposes of him.

Meanwhile, Anthony finds Johanna in Fogg's asylum and rescues her, but cannot bring himself to kill her captor. Johanna takes charge and stabs Fogg. The lunatics break free, proclaiming a "City on Fire.

Todd and Mrs. Lovett search for Tobias, who has disappeared in the cellars under the bakehouse.The pair returns to Sweeney's shop, where Johanna hides while Anthony secures transportation out of town. The Beggar woman, searching for the missing Beadle, is discovered by Todd and killed when he sees the judge approaching. The judge and Sweeeney repeat their earlier exchange (The Judges Return). Just as Turpin recognizes Todd as Benjamin Barker, Sweeney slits the judges throat. Todd discovers Johannah but does not recognize her, since she is disguised as a male sailor. He is about to kill her as well, but she escapes.

Todd descends to the bakehouse, and while looking at the bodies, he suddenly recognizes the Beggar Woman as his lovely wife, Lucy. He kills Mrs. Lovett for her duplicity. Tobias, however, has witnessed this, and while Todd weeps over Lucy, cuts Todd's throat. The authorities take Tobias away (The Ballad of Sweeney Todd).

The tale concluded, Tobias is again seated, bound and gagged. The figure of Sweeney exits, slamming the door behind him. Curtain. Synopsis by Sean Patrick Flahaven.