'Demon Barber' visits IU

"Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of\nFleet Street" is the horror movie of musicals. The combination of revenge, murder and award-winning music makes for a terrifyingly good time, past audience members say. \nThe musical, composed by Steven Sondheim, tells the story of Sweeney Todd, a deranged barber set on revenge. Years earlier, the corrupt Judge Turpin sent Todd to Australia on a trumped-up charge so that he could pursue Todd's wife. Back from Australia and mad as anything, Todd hooks up with his landlady, Mrs. Lovett, and begins to plot. Meanwhile, Anthony Hope, a sailor who once saved Todd's life, falls in love with Todd's estranged daughter, Johanna. Johanna, who was young when her father was sent away, is being brought up as the ward of the twisted Judge Turpin. The twists that follow lead to a horrific end. \nThe show will be presented with seats on three sides so the audience can be a part of the action.\nEmmy Award-winning director George Pinney, a professor of theatre and drama, said this production will be an interactive experience.\n"It's in three quarter, it's a very environmental experience," Pinney said. "All the curtains are gone; you're in an environment created by light and space. Sondheim thought of it as a chamber piece, and he wanted to scare the audience. The audience member is a participant rather than an observer. It's not in front of you, it's on top of you, it's all around you. Every aspect of this production is highly experimental."\n"Sweeney Todd" is one of Sondheim's most noted musicals, said senior Heath Calvert, who plays the title character. \n"The music is brilliantly tied in with the emotions of the characters," Calvert said. "It foreshadows the actions that take place, it ties together different moments in the show. You can empathize with Sweeney Todd for wanting revenge, but at the same time you realize that he's nuts. He really is a demon barber." \nEach character has his or her own musical theme that is juxtaposed in different scenes throughout the musical.\nMFA student Coryell Barlow, who plays the devious baker Mrs. Lovett, describes her character as "the capitalist of the show, she's always looking to make lemonade out of lemons."\nBarlow said the genius of the play is its clever mix of tragedy and humor.\n"There's pretty much everything in this show," Barlow said. "People die in this musical, but they die in a funny way. That's what's so brilliant about it. It's really interesting the way it makes the audience a part of the show. Sondheim uses the music to smooth the story along." \nThe show, which is based on a book by Hugh Wheeler, was originally staged on Broadway in 1979. The musical features the well-known songs such as "Not While I'm Around," "Pretty Women," and "A Little Priest." \n"Sweeney Todd" is the first musical to be staged in the Wells-Metz Theatre. \nThe musical will debut at 8 p.m. tonight, and will run Saturday and April 21 through April 26. Both Saturdays will feature 2 p.m. matinee performances. A curtain talk will follow the Tuesday performance. Tickets for all performances are $15 for the general public, $13 for students, and can be purchased at the IU Auditorium Box Office or by Ticketmaster. Student rush tickets will be available beginning 30 minutes before each performance for $10.