Sweeney Todd:

1. Plot Summary: ACT I: The show opens with the full ensemble addressing the
audience, preparing them for the story. Anthony and Todd come off a ship to
London, Anthony is excited to be back but Todd expresses his hate. A crazed
Beggar Woman attacks the two, offering sexual favors. She says she recognizes
Todd but he throws her away. The two depart and Todd happens upon Mrs.
Lovetts meat shop, where he expresses interest in the room above her shop. She
says no one will rent it because Benjamin Barker, a young barber who had a
beautiful wife who was coveted by Judge Turpin. Turpin had Barker taken away,
he then raped Barkers wife. Sweeney hears this story and scream in anguish,
revealing him to be Sweeney. Todd is reunited with his razors. Anthony happens
upon Johanna, Judge Turpins ward, when he hears her singing. He vows to have
her. In the marketplace, a young boy Toby tries to sell a miracle elixir by a man
named Pirelli. Todd exposes the fraud and is challenged by Pirelli to a shaving
competition, judged by Turpins beadle, Beadle Bamford. Todd wins and offers
the beadle his services, knowing his ties to the judge. Turpin announces his plans
to marry Johanna. Toby and Pirelli show up and Pirelli reveals himself to be
Todds former apprentice and tries to blackmail him. Todd kills him. Anthony
sneaks into Johannas room and the two fall in love and he reveals his intention to
marry her and take her away. The Beadle suggests to the Judge that he should see
Todd to get a shave in order to look more pleasant for Johanna. Turpin gets a
shave from Todd, during which Anthony runs in and announces his plans to marry
Johanna. Enraged, Turpin leaves before Todd can kill him. Todd descends into
madness. The problem of disposing Pirellis body is solved when Mrs. Lovett
suggests using his body to make her pies, the two then revel in using all different
people as flavors.
ACT II: Mrs. Lovetts Meat Shop is enjoying newfound prosperity. With a new
chair, Todd can cut the throats of his customers and then slide them down to the
oven straight from his upstairs room. Todd dreams of his vengeance and his
daughter, Johanna, while Anthony and Turpin muse about her as well. Mrs.
Lovett dreams of a life where she and Todd can live quietly by the sea. Anthony
discovers Johanna was put in an insane asylum by Turpin. Todd sends Anthony
there, disguised as a wigmaker trying to get Johannas hair. Todd writes Turpin a
letter, saying Anthony and Johanna can be found at his barber shop tonight. Toby,
who Lovett has sort of adopted, suggests his suspicion about Todd to Lovett.
Concerned, she delights him by letting him into the meat grinding room and locks
him in. The Beadle comes to answer complaints about a foul smell coming from
their place. Lovett distracts him with parlor songs. Todd kills him. Anthony saves
Johanna from the asylum after Johanna shoots him and the people in the asylum
run free on the streets. The Beggar Woman, suspicious that the Beadle did not
return from his visit inside the parlor, searches for him. Todd finds her and slits
her throat. The judge comes to the barber shop, Todd convinces him to go for a
shave and kills him. Searching for Toby, Lovett and Todd go to the oven room
where he sees the Beggar Womans dead body and recognizes her as his wife.
Todd kills Mrs. Lovett for lying to him. Cradling his wifes dead body, Toby
 comes up from behind and kills Todd. The entire cast comes out again, including
Todd, instructing them to attend the tale.
Style: dark, sung-thru, scary, gory, horror
a. Dance: none to minimal; choreographer might see room for dancing but
there is typically none
b. Set: not too many scenes; sets could be suggestions rather than full rooms;
however, creating a SAFE and workable chair in which Todd can slide
bodies off of, away from the view of the audience is a HUGE challenge.
c. Costuming: 1800s and destitute with a few rich characters; dark, muted
color scheme, with not much room for color.
d. Music: dark, gothic, musical theatre, extremely challenging

2. Musical Numbers
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd: several of these occur throughout the show,
which provide opportunities for the ensemble to sing in large, choral style
singing. However, these are really the only opportunities for the ensemble
to sing
Worst Pies in London: Mrs. Lovetts introductory song, fun and a chance
for the actress to establish character
Johanna: one of the most recognizable songs in the show, beautiful love
ballad
A Little Priest: a darkly comedic number in which the premise of the show
is established
God, Thats Good: another opportunity for the ensemble to sing
By The Sea: one of the only upbeat, happy numbers in the show
Final Sequence: is a really long number that features the entire cast
3. Instrumentation
4. BASS
5. CELLO
6. HARP
7. HORN
8. ORGAN P
9. ERCUSSION 1&2 (2 PLAYERS MINIMUM), BASS DRUM, BELL TREE, CHIMES,
CYMBALS, DRUM SET, GLOCKENSPIEL, GRAN CASSA, RATCHET, RAZOR STROP,
SNARE DRUM, SWISS BELL, TAM-TAM, TAMBOURINE, TEMPLE BLOCK, TIMPANI,
TOM-TOMS, TRIANGLE, VIBES, WASH TUB, WHISTLE, XYLOPHONE
10. REED 1 FLUTE, OPT.SOPRANO RECORDER, PICCOLO
11. REED 2 ENGLISH HORN, OBOE
12. REED 3 Bb CLARINET, Eb CLARINET, FLUTE, PICCOLO
13. REED 4 Bb CLARINET, BASS CLARINET
14. REED 5 BASSOON
15. TROMBONE 1
16. TROMBONE 2
17. TROMBONE 3
18. TRUMPET 1 & 2
19. VIOLA (2 PLAYERS MINIMUM)
20. VIOLINS (3 PLAYERS MINIMUM)
Casting Size: Medium (20), Flexible Cast Type: Ensemble Cast - Many featured roles, Showcases trained
singers, Star Vehicle - Female, Star Vehicle - Male, Strong/Large Chorus, Teenage Roles

Sweeney A wrongfully imprisoned barber seeking to right the wrongs committed against him. He is
Todd Johanna's father, singularly focussed on taking bloody revenge. Our story's tormented
protagonist.
Male, 40-55 yrs old
Range: F2 - Gb4

Mrs. Lovett An entrepreneurial and amoral meat pie shop owner. She falls in love with Todd and turns his
desire for revenge into a profitable business venture.
Female, 35-50
Range: G3 - E5

Anthony A naive and youthful sailor returning to London. He helps Todd return to London and
Hope unexpectedly falls in love with Johanna.
Male, 20-30 yrs old
Range: Bb2 - F4

Johanna A spritely girl, full of innocence, constantly yearning for freedom. Todd's long-lost daughter
and Turpin's ward.
Female, 18-21 yrs old
Range: Bb3 - A5

Tobias A poor youngster apprenticed to Pirelli. He finds a surrogate family in Todd and Lovett.
Ragg Male, 12-18 yrs old
Range: Bb2 - Ab4

Judge A lecherous public official who portrays himself as a sanctimonious authoritarian. He takes
Turpin advantage of his position in the city and is responsible for imprisoning Todd.
Male, 50-65 yrs old
Range: E2 - Gb4

The Beadle A pompous public official. He is deeply loyal to the corrupt Turpin.
Male, 40-55 yrs old
Range: D3 - D5

Beggar A deranged and schizophrenic woman who harbors a dark, surprising secret.
Woman Female, 35-50 yrs old
Range: Ab3 - F5

Adolfo Pirelli A flamboyant Italian rival barber; a charlatan with a secret past.
Male, 30-45 yrs old
Range: B2 - C5

Jonas Fogg The owner of Fogg's Asylum. He sells the hair of madmen to wigmakers.
Male, 35-60 yrs old
Speaking Role

Ensemble Townspeople; Policemen; Lunatics

21. Pros: Potential for quite a large cast. The show is very well-known (been around
for a while and there was a movie version). There are quite a few named parts
which provide opportunities for almost a dozen people to either sing or speak. It is
an interesting era for the art team to explore and the gothic aesthetic could be a
 fun challenge for the costume and make up team to explore. The use of blood and
other special effects could be a fun challenge FYP has not faced before.
22. Cons: This show is one of the hardest shows on this planet. Not only is the music
challenging for singers, but there is not a moment of this show that isnt
underscored. The pit is playing the entire time. The pit is a full blown orchestra,
which FYP does not usually have and the music is beyond difficult. Additionally,
the challenge of building a chair that operates SAFELY and PROPERLY to drop
bodies down a slide could be hard and the safety codes might be hard to work
around. The subject matter could be a little troubling for some people, too (rape,
etc.).