IMP presents "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" June 19, 2009

Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd!
(THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY VERSION)

Benjamin Barker (Carlos Bofill), a man unjustly imprisoned through the machinations of a lecherous judge (Steve Chrisenberry) and his henchman, Beadle Bamford (Jim Zieliński), vows revenge, not only for the cruel punishment he suffered, but for the devastating consequences his incarceration wrought upon his wife and daughter.

When, under an alias, he returns to London in order to reopen his barber shop above the bakery of the shady Mrs. Lovett (Katharine Boettcher), “Sweeney Todd” becomes the “Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” who “shaved the heads of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard from again…” Together, the duo takes the aphorism, “you are what you eat,” a bit further than was originally intended.

A rival barber, the Neapolitan mountebank Pirelli (Jim Wood) threatens our hero’s plans—though not for long—and Sweeney is soon in a lather when his traveling companion (Blake Hamilton) falls in love with his grown-up daughter (Jenni Brown), now the judge’s ward; Lovett’s simple-minded helper, Toby (John Howard), unwittingly uncovers his modus operandi; a crazed beggar woman (Elaine Wick Poplin) has a moment of lucidity and recognizes the tonsorial terror; and Johanna is dispatched to the hazy bedlam of Mr. Fogg’s (Jay Poff) asylum.

Stephen Sondheim’s Victorian Musicale of the Macabre marks Independent Musical Productions’ “Sweet Sixteenth” anniversary…and not without reason: “Sweeney Todd” was in fact IMP’s premier production sixteen years ago. The author’s razor-sharp wit wends its way through this well-honed, multi-award-winning tale, which boasts a multi-award-winning cast and crew; tunes ranging from soaring solos to diabolical duets, three tenors, and a “barbershop quintet”; lilting lyrics that take a stab at everything from Lionel Bart to Gilbert and Sullivan; period costumes; and enough gothic atmosphere to make Lugosi giggle.

This celebration of Grand Guignol set to music is directed by Vivienne Atkins (who is aided by assistant director P.J. Sligting and musical director Barry Petty). “Sweeney” will play on the Lee Lyric Theatre stage at Huntsville’s Lee High School, 606 Forrest Circle, on Friday-Saturday, 19-20 June and Thursday-Saturday, 25-27 June at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinée at 2:30 p.m. on 21 June.

Tickets are $20 for Adults, $18 for Students/Seniors, and can be purchased by e-mailing tickets@imphuntsville.org, online via PayPal at www.imphuntsville.org, calling (256) 519-2787, or by visiting ticketing outlets at AB Stephens Music, The Greenery, Harrison Brothers Hardware, The Arts Council, Inc., or the Off Campus College Bookstore. Group Rates are also available, so buy your tickets TODAY, and we’ll save the edge of a seat for you at the cutting-edge, slice-of-life known as…

“SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET!”