Sweeney Todd

Prologue

An unseen organist plays a dirge. Two men hastily digging a grave are interrupted by a long loud shrill factory whistle.

Lights fade to black, then rise on a grim-faced ensemble, who instruct the audience to “attend the tale of Sweeney Todd” (“The Ballad of Sweeney Todd”). Sweeney himself, “the demon barber of Fleet Street,” rises from the grave to join them. Blackout.

Act I

Lights rise on the London docks, where Sweeney and Anthony, a sweet-natured sailor, are just arriving in the city. Anthony declares that there’s “No Place Like London,” but Todd is less saccharine: “Life has been kind to you. You will learn.”

A ragged, desperate Beggar Woman asks Anthony for alms, then propositions him for sex (“Beggar Woman’s Lament”). Ever the gentleman, Anthony assents to the former, and refuses the latter. Suddenly, the Beggar Woman turns her attention to Sweeney, whom she seems to recognize. Not wanting to be identified, he chases her away.

Anthony, who rescued Sweeney weeks