As with all of Cabaret's productions, "Sweeney Todd" is completely student-run. The show is directed by Andy Reed '03 and produced by Jamie O'Brien '02. Adam Roffman '02 has taken up vocal directing duties and Jared White '02 conducts the orchestra, which is composed of 20 student volunteers.
The story takes place in 19th century England, during the Industrial Revolution. Roffman plays the title character, a master barber who is falsely branded a criminal by a corrupt, scheming judge (Phil J. Tucker '02). The judge is wildly attracted to Todd's wife and conspires to get rid of Todd by shipping him off to Australia. Driven to despair by the loss of her husband and the advances of the judge, Todd's wife takes poison.
The musical begins with Todd's escape from prison and return to England 20 years later. He vows to avenge his wife's death and to rescue his daughter Johanna (Mount Holyoke College freshman Capron Hannay) from the judge.
O'Brien said, "The daughter was a baby when the judge convicted her father, and she becomes the judge's ward. Now the judge thinks she's cute. In a 'protective' way, that is."
"There are a lot of surprises in the show as the plot goes in an unexpected direction," said Reed, hinting that meat pies have something to do with it.
Rounding out the cast are music department staff member Ann Maggs as Mrs. Lovett, a nice but mischievious woman who owns a pie shop; Chad Mills '04 as a young sailor named Anthony who rescues Todd after his escape from prison; Smith College senior Jill Hourihan as a beggar woman; and Mario Rojas '02 as the judge's assistant, Beadle Bamford.
Mills said that he was impressed with the professional attitude of the other students involved. "It's nice how much can get done by students despite hectic scheduling and other commitments," he said.
"Sweeney Todd" is a small-scale concert production which doesn't require full sets. According to Mills, "It's an interesting mix of the stage and concert, because there's some blocking and some props, but no set."
Reed also commented on the production style and said, "The concert version of 'Sweeney Todd' allows us to do a show that we normally wouldn't have the means to do." The stage will be fairly bare with the exception of a few props.
Proceeds from the show will benefit a non-profit organization called AIDS Care-Hampshire County.