Sweeney Todd Synopsis

ACT I

A young sailor, Anthony Hope, returns to London with Sweeney Todd, the man he rescued on the journey back from Australia. Todd seems unnerved by a beggar woman and by the London streets. He recounts the story of a barber and family whose lives were torn apart by a corrupt judge some fifteen years previously. Continuing alone, Todd enters Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop on Fleet Street to find out what happened to the barber’s wife and child, Johanna. Mrs. Lovett recognizes him as Benjamin Barker, the barber from the story. She recalls how his wife Lucy was raped by Judge Turpin and subsequently poisoned herself, leaving the judge to adopt Johanna as his own. Todd swears to take revenge on the judge and his henchman, Beadle Bamford. Mrs. Lovett brings Todd his razors, which she has kept safe and encourages him to take up his old trade above her pie shop. Anthony is passing by Judge Turpin’s house when he catches sight of Johanna, whom the judge keeps virtually imprisoned. The beggar woman warns Anthony not to get involved with Johanna. Judge Turpin and Bamford catch Anthony and Johanna together. Anthony is advised again to leave Johanna alone. The simple lad Tobias is hawking a miraculous hair tonic on behalf of the Italian barber Adolfo Pirelli. Todd challenges the Italian to a shaving contest with Bamford serving as judge. Todd wins easily, and Bamford is so impressed by Todd’s skill that he promises to come in for a shave. Meanwhile, a mixture of lust and guilt fills Judge Turpin as he spies on Johanna. He tells the horrified girl he intends to marry her himself in order to keep her safe. At Todd’s shop Mrs. Lovett encourages the barber to bide his time before his revenge. Pirelli arrives at the shop for a private word with Todd. Having recognized Todd as Benjamin Barker, Pirelli tries to blackmail him. Todd panics and kills him. Returning from court, the judge tells Beadle Bamford he intends to marry Johanna; elsewhere, Anthony and Johanna are making plans to elope. Bamford suggests a visit to Sweeney Todd for a shave before proposing. In the barber’s chair the judge reveals his passion for women as Todd prepares for revenge. Anthony rushes in revealing the elopement and distracting Todd. The judge leaves in anger. Overcome with rage at missing his opportunity, Todd swears to take his revenge on all men. Mrs. Lovett is struck by a practical idea of how to dispose of his victim’s bodies and also increase her pie sales.

ACT II

Mrs. Lovett’s pies are so improved that the shop is mobbed with customers; Tobias has been enlisted to help serve pies and keep the beggar woman away. Todd has a new barber chair that sends his victims directly to the bake-house. Anthony searches for Johanna, who is in the lunatic asylum where the judge has placed her. Johanna dreams of the moment when Anthony will free her. With business booming, Mrs. Lovett hopes of a future living on the coast and married to Todd. Having found Johanna, Anthony brings the news to Todd. Todd sends Anthony to the asylum posing as a wigmaker in order to free Johanna and bring her to him. Todd writes an urgent letter to the judge telling him he will find Johanna and Anthony at the barber shop that evening. Tobias has grown fond of Mrs. Lovett and promises to protect her. When Mrs. Lovett pulls out Pirelli’s purse, he recognizes it. She says Todd gave it to her, which feeds Tobias’s growing suspicions about Todd. She locks Tobias in the bake-house. Beadle Bamford comes by to investigate complaints about the odors coming from her chimney. When Todd returns, Bamford is offered a free shave. Tobias sees Bamford’s body and tries to escape. Mrs. Lovett urges Todd to get rid of the boy. Anthony succeeds in freeing Johanna and they arrive at the shop, with Johanna disguised as a sailor. While Anthony goes to hire a coach for their escape, she remains in the shop, hiding to avoid the beggar woman, who has come in to look for Beadle Bamford. When Todd returns and discovers the beggar woman, he impulsively kills her as he sees the judge returning. Todd suggests a shave for the judge before the reunion. Todd then reveals his true identity and kills him. Johanna emerges from hiding and escapes Todd’s razor. In the bake-house he finds Mrs. Lovett dragging the beggar woman to the oven. When Todd sees the body in the light, he realizes she is his wife, Lucy, and that Mrs. Lovett has deceived him. He pushes Mrs. Lovett into her own oven. Tobias emerges from the cellar and kills Todd.