The Daily Union - January 13, 2008 ~ Gail Parsons

The off-Broadway musical Sweeney Todd, Demon Barber of Fleet Street opened on the Kansas City Music Hall stage on Tuesday to an enthused crowd many of whom I assume had seen or plan to see the film version starring Johnny Depp.
Personally I don’t plan to see the film version. My son, who did, confirmed my suspicion that on screen the killing is more graphic. Apparently the number of victims is more evident and there was something about cockroaches that didn’t show up on stage. (I don’t mind spiders – I even kinda like snakes, but I cannot stand cockroaches). And I am perfectly happy with the exaggerated slice through the air with a shaving razor, the red stage lights and loud whistle that depicts the death on stage as opposed to the obviousness of the deed on screen.
Somewhere about half way through the second act I began to wonder “is there a message behind this rather twisted story of revenge, economics, and love?” And how is it that a story about cannibalism could be so popular?
While I never did discover a message, besides the need to choose you barber carefully, I do find it interesting that some version or another of the story has been circulating since the early 1800’s.
Playwright Christopher Bond tells readers that Sweeney Todd is pure fiction. While the account of the Demon Barber’s life may be pure fiction, the crime itself has some measure of reality.
The real Sweeney Todd was supposedly born in 1748 to alcoholic parents, a common situation for the times in London. Around 1960 the lad was either abandoned or orphaned.
Following the trends of the day the youngster quickly turned to a life of crime to support himself. During one of his stints behind bars, he met a barber and learned the trade of barbering.
Records would indicate that Sweeney was released from prison at age 19; soon afterwards he committed his first murder – the impetus was jealousy; thus the start of the Demon Barber story. Sweeney opened a barber shop on Fleet Street where he continued to slit the throats of select clients.
Records are sketchy about how Sweeney and his accomplice met, but her bakery was found to have a secret opening into the catacombs, which also were joined to Sweeney’s shop. Rumors, missing people, and a stench from the catacombs led to an investigation.
In 1801, the baker, Ms. Lovett admitted to the crime and committed suicide in prison, later that year Sweeney Todd stood trial. Professing his innocence to the end, on Jan. 25, 1802 records show that one Sweeney Todd was hanged in the prison yard at Newgate Prison.
For a more detailed report of this heinous crime, on which the musical is based, visitwww.crimelibrary.com.