Script Content Details

Performance Preview Guide for Sweeney Todd

Performances: July 20-29th at First Stage Theatre, 120 Front Street North, Issaquah

Patrons have different ideas of what material or themes are appropriate for them or their families. For this reason, we provide the following information:

The Program and Process The Village Theatre Summer Independent Production program is excited to present Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The Summer Independent Production is a program that allows young people ages 13-20 to put on a full-length show. The production team is composed of only students, whom are accompanied by Village Theatre professionals in a mentorship program. The students learn how to direct, choreograph, build, and manage a professional production.

The Production  Sweeney Todd may not be appropriate for children ages 13 and under.  Sweeney Todd is the story of a man’s search of justice and revenge in a time of chaos. In pursuit of his goal, Sweeney makes decisions that may be considered controversial.  Sweeney reflects various perspectives and explores why Sweeney makes the decisions he does. Controversial subject matter includes violence, sexual propositions, cannibalism, and language. The team has strived to treat the challenging material with respect and an enjoyably dark humor to assure the story is compelling and honest.

Versions available to preview: A script is available at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre Box Office in Issaquah for you to read.

Synopsis: Ah, the sweet taste of revenge is deliciously re-envisioned in this production of the Tony Award- winning musical thriller brimming with murderous "barber"-ism and culinary crime. Living legend Stephen Sondheim cooks up a musical masterpiece in one of most darkly humorous and stomach-turning operatic achievements to date. In Victorian England, Sweeney Todd, a barber arrested under false charges, seeks payback on those who destroyed his life with the help of friend Mrs. Lovett, the resourceful owner of a pie shop. Featuring such songs as "Johanna", "Not While I'm Around", and "The Worst Pies in London", you will shriek in delight as you "attend the tale of Sweeney Todd."

Script Content Details Please note: the following information contains plot spoilers.

Violence: The story revolves around revenge and the depths that a person can fall in his search for resolve in a world of chaos and lack of justice. Many characters are murdered. Their deaths are portrayed with lighting techniques and without gore. At one point, a character shoots another while making an escape.

Sexual content: One character is a beggar who needs money to survive. She does this by begging on the streets and as an attempt to gain even more income, she tries to sell her body. She uses English innuendos to try and entice the people of London but is unsuccessful through the run of the show. One older character has an intense desire towards a much younger character who happens to be his ward.

Language: Scenes often have tense subjects and high tempers that at times, results in an occasional swear word.

Cannibalism: Characters eat meat pies that unbeknownst to them, contain human remains for meat. Well, they had to get rid of the bodies somehow...