Lift your razor high! High school puts on Sweeney Todd

CHAMBERSBURG>> "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is heading to South Sixth Street this weekend as he makes his neck-slicing debut in the spring musical being performed at Chambersburg Area Senior High School.

The play follows the story of a former exiled barber returning to London to seek revenge on a judge who kicked him out of the country to Australia.

Check out Public Opinion's Media Gallery for "Sweeney Todd"

Throughout the story Todd commits a string of murders, and turns over the bodies to Mrs. Lovett, who owns the pie store beneath his barber shop. She in turn uses the bodies to make her pies.

So, compared to past musicals put on by the school, "Sweeney Todd" is a bit darker in tone. But, there were many reasons why Ian Jacobs, the director, decided to choose it for the spring musical.

"It was just a movie, and we just wanted to show the community we do all styles of theater," he said.

Senior Ian Berrier, who plays Sweeney Todd, said it was difficult to try to embody such a dark character.

"It takes a lot of seriousness and that has been the hardest part because I'm such good friends with everybody that we're working with," he said. "But, you sort of have to put yourself in the mindset of the character and what has happened to him because it's truly tragic things that have happened to the character."

Senior Lauren Mellott is playing Johanna, the daughter of Sweeney Todd. She has performed in the school's past three musicals and found Sweeney Todd to be a different kind of play.

"It's definitely been a challenge," she said. "It's very different from what I am used to but it has also been a great learning experience."

Opening night is at 7:30 p.m. April 17, and doors will open at 6:30 p.m. There will be a showing at 7:30 p.m. April 18, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The last show will be at 3 p.m. April 19, with doors opening at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $2 for students and can be purchased by calling 717-261-322 ext. 80401 or by emailing drama.club@casdonline.org.