Emily Carbone ‘28
Staff Writer
“Whatever you think it is, it’s not that.” Senior Rachel Golden shook her head as I asked her why audiences should see Sweeney Todd, the departmental musical that opened this Thursday.
As I reflect on the harrowing and jarring tale of Sweeney Todd that the PAC has tirelessly been putting together since October, I know that Rachel is right. Unless you’ve seen the show, you would never know to expect the frightening twists and uproarious turns in the story of a bloodthirsty barber ravenous for revenge. Sweeney Todd is a hilariously dark musical that has been gripping audiences since its creation in 1979, but remains relevant today.
“I was drawn to Sweeney Todd because it presents such a strong contrast to Oklahoma!, our musical last season,” stated director Meaghan Deiter, who recently directed both Oklahoma! and Company at the PAC. “Contrast not only in the themes explored — earnestness and hope replaced by obsession and cynicism — but also in the choices I could make while creating the world of the show.”
Indeed, to Deiter, it was crucial to not only convey the hauntingly poignant message of Sweeney, but to still provide a fresh take on its contents. “With Sweeney, we can create a world that is edgy and free from rules. While we recognize the setting, 19th century London, our costumes also embrace a steampunk, modern aesthetic. This allows the cast to be both characters in a story that took place long ago, and people who exist in our contemporary world. Hopefully, that helps us connect more directly with students in the audience.”
While Deiter’s masterful direction provides reason enough to attend Sweeney’s harrowing tale, the phenomenal cast and crew seal the deal. With 26 students in the cast, 15 in the orchestra, and 12 students running technical aspects of the show, it is the biggest production Holy Cross has had in the Luth so far.
As a member of the cast myself, I can truly say that both the kindness and the talent of the students working on this production is unmatched. “The experience of working on Sweeney Todd was filled with such joy, with the kindest people that I’ve ever worked with on a show,” agreed Jimmy Duffy, the sophomore who stars as the demon barber himself. “At the end, everyone comes together, and it wouldn’t have been great any other way.”
“It’s really worth it to come see your peers and what the PAC can put on,” added Rachel Golden. “As a senior doing my 4th show here, this has been a real blast. You can tell the lighthearted cast bonding that’s been going on. Everyone is just having such a good time on stage.” I agree entirely with my castmates. The experience of building the story of Sweeney Todd was incredible in every way, and we have truly put our all into creating an experience for the Holy Cross community that they will hopefully enjoy watching as much as we enjoyed working on it. As the opening lines of the show invite you to do, you really must “attend the tale of Sweeney Todd,” playing through the 16th! Tickets are available for purchase on the Prior Performing Arts website, and are reduced to $15 for the Holy Cross community. We hope to see you there!
Featured image courtesy of Prior Performing Arts Center
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