Cutting Edge

Touring company's razor, 'meat pies' and barbershop drop in at UW-P
By The Telegraph herald


The Demon Barber of Fleet Street -- bloody razor, suspicious "meat pies" and all -- will make a national touring company stop on the stage of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Center for the Arts, as part of the Performing Arts Series.

Tickets are on sale for a one-night performance of "Sweeney Todd," Sunday, Oct. 5.

The Stephen Sondheim musical -- made into a 2007 movie starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter -- is based on a 19th century legend about a London barber. After an evil judge takes his wife and child away from him, the barber plans his revenge with a businesswoman named Mrs. Lovett.

She has a meat pie establishment conveniently located near Todd's barbershop.

The national touring company includes a cast of 10 actor/musicians. It is produced by NETworks Presentations, whose production of "Rent" was part of UW-Platteville's 2005-06 art series.

The Wall Street Journal called it, "The greatest musical of the past half-century."

Director and designer John Doyle's Broadway production opened in 2005, winning Drama League, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for best revival of a music. The production also won a special citation by the New York Drama Critics Circle.

News You Can Use
What: "Sweeney Todd," a musical thriller
Who: The national touring company
When: 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5
Where: Center for the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Cost: $32, general admission; $28 for children younger than 18; call the box office at 608-342-1298 or purchase tickets online at http://ticket.uwplatt.edu