The infamous Demon Barber of Fleet Street is back on Broadway and he’s here to continue his spree! After the musical Sweeny Todd’s unfortunate closing in 1990, many fans and theater fanatics were left yearning for its return, hoping to (re)enjoy the original, fun essence of it. Luckily, as of March 26, it’s back, and it’s better than ever (the Tony awards the show has won prove it). It’s got a fun cast, a number of ear-warming tunes, and an amazingly engaging plot.
Speaking of the plot, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street tells the story of a vengeful barber named Sweeney Todd, who has just arrived back to London after 15 years wrongfully imprisoned. While exploring London, Sweeney stumbles upon a shop with an open room for rent: Ms. Lovett’s Pie Shop. He rents out the room above the shop, using it as a sort of hideout for the revenge plot against Judge Turpin (the judge responsible for his conviction) he was soon to enact. While Ms. Lovett allows Sweeney to live above her shop, she grows fond of him, and tries to earn his affection by getting rid of all evidence of Sweeney’s victims.We also meet Johanna- Sweeney’s daughter- a 16 year old girl who’s a happy-go-lucky, lively character. Unfortunately, Johanna was taken in by Judge Turpin when Sweeney was sent away, making her no stranger to mistreatment. Last, but certainly not least, we have Tobias Ragg or Toby for short. Toby is one of the most important characters of the show, as he’s Ms. Lovett’s adopted son, and helps her serve her wonderful meat pies. Fun Fact: Ms. Lovett actually makes the pies on stage. And yes, they’ll serve anyone and everyone.
This musical is beautifully casted. Sweeney Todd is played by Josh Groben. If you don’t know who that is, just ask your mom! His performance deserves a 10/10, as he develops and portrays the character of Sweeney so well. Next we have Ms. Lovett, who was played by Annaleigh Ashford. Annaleigh Ashford is arguably one of the best Broadway actresses, but that doesn’t mean her performance doesn’t have some flaws. Her cockney accent is not the best. Her singing voice is phenomenal, and her acting as Ms. Lovett is great. However, her fake accent ruins the performance for many. If you choose to ignore the accent, though, she is a 10/10. Lastly, the phenomenal Toby was played by Gaten Matarazzo, of Stranger Things fame. Toby is a little innocent boy in the beginning of the musical – all you wanna do is hug him! Matarazzo is perfectly cast for that part. making sure everyone in the audience knows just how pure Toby seems to be. Honestly, Matarazzo’s performance deserves a 100/10. Listening to him sing “Not While I’m Around” live in that theater was spine-chilling. Everyone was bawling their eyes out. It truly was a Tony-worthy performance.
Overall, the show warrants a 4.5/5 star rating. While everyone did exceptional as their roles, there were a few kinks here and there, but no show is without its flaws. Honestly, the show leaves you on the edge of your seat the whole time. You truly never know what to expect next, and the actors do a really amazing job of keeping the audience interested and enthused. If you have an interest in Broadway, and want a fun, captivating musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a must-see.