Story By: Lev Cardenas, Co-Editor-In-Chief
Photo Courtesy of Cypress College Theatre Department
Cypress Theatre Department will open the musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” on Oct. 9, directed by Daniel Nakawatase.
“Sweeney Todd” is a 1979 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book written by Hugh Wheeler based on the 1970 play “Sweeney Todd” by Christopher Bond. Taking place in the Victorian era, the musical thriller follows a wrongfully exiled London barber who returns seeking revenge, and forms a murderous alliance with a local pie shop owner. The plot explores themes such as class and survival as these two descend into moral corruption.
“It is the pursuit of survival, the pursuit of existence,” said Christina Du Chene, who plays Mrs. Lovett. “Each of these people are just trying to do their best. You see them get a little misled along the way, but it’s really human to mess up trying to get what you want.”
Despite the dark content in “Sweeney Todd,” the musical contains characters and an environment that the audience may be familiar with. Director Nakawatase noted that the audience could resonate with the musical, finding similarities in it and what is happening in the world today.
“It’s insane that the barber is killing people, that the pie shop owner is turning those dead people into meat pies, and the judge, who is supposed to be the law, is sending people away to a penal colony on a whim,“ Nakawatase said. ”And yet, is it really that crazy, looking at the state of the world today.”
The musical depicts the struggle and desperation of average people and the limits they are pushed to. It portrays the corruption of the legal system and the effect that can have on oneself, and is a warning tale of the danger that comes with pursuing revenge that the audience can learn from and walk away with.
“I know it’s hard to say that the show is relatable considering it’s about cannibalism,” said Isabella Marie Gavilanes, who is part of the ensemble. “But if you take away all of that, there is a lot of humanity in it, and I think everybody in the audience can find a character that they relate to in a way.”
The production will take place in the Cypress College Theatre at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9, 10, 16, and 17 and Oct. 11 and 18 at 4 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.cypresscollegetheatre.com or at the box office before the performance.
