Tooele High School’s top student players will open the first of two spring musicals next week — a student-produced rendition of “Sweeney Todd.”
THS drama director Scott Henrie said he had enjoyed a high school-friendly version of the production he encountered at a theater convention and had agreed to order the script after his students begged to stage the production.
The high school version, which is based on the 1979 Broadway thriller “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” was created sometime after the 2007 Tim Burton film reinstated the tale’s popularity, Henrie said.
But the tale of Sweeney Todd dates back to 1846, if not earlier, according to some accounts. Some critics have even argued that Todd was originally based on a real London serial killer.
In the 1979 version, Todd returns to London after 15 years of exile in Australia — a fate Todd suffered at the hands of a corrupt judge, Judge Turpin, who falsely convicts Todd to be with Todd’s wife.
Bent on revenge, Todd reopens his Fleet Street barbershop, which he uses as a front to lure in high-class patrons to murder in Judge Turpin’s place. Todd’s accomplice and would-be lover, Mrs. Lovett, then disposes of the corpses by baking them into meat pies.
The high school version is modified to remove some of the language in the original play and to provide opportunities for the murders to take place off-stage.
Henrie said the cast — comprised mostly of his advanced drama students but also a few newcomers, including some junior high students — has done an excellent job with the production thus far. The roles of the play are double-cast, except for Todd himself, who is played by Chad Henwood. Renee Fowler and Ashley Gross share the role of Mrs. Lovett.
“It’s a good play; it’s a lot of fun,” Henrie said.
THS will open “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, School Version,” next Monday at 7 p.m. in the high school’s auditorium. Additional shows will take place Feb. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and March 2. An additional 1 p.m. matinee will play on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Tickets cost $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $3 for children under 10, and may be purchased at the door or by calling 435-833-1978.