Ben Deihl | staff writer

The Red Masquers are opening up their doors on Thursday for their spring musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” The production tells the tale of Sweeney Todd (Jeff Way), a barber who was unjustly exiled from his home and is driven to madness upon his return.

Director Jill Jeffrey’s production took the familiar plot and displaced it from its original Victorian era setting, as the Red Masquers opted for a Cold War era Europe.

“I wanted this set in the 1950’s because it’s an era so many people falsely romanticize,” Jeffrey said. “People had problems then, too. It doesn’t matter how you dress it or what it looks like, that doesn’t mean it’s the best of times.”

“I like that we’re stripping away the nostalgia and romanticization of this time period,” she said. “It’s important to show how dark and greedy those times could be, especially with the current atmosphere of uncertainty in our country.”

The musical opens with “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” which explains the titular character’s origins as a barber, his incredible razor skills and the strange disappearance of his patrons.

Framed by a corrupt official, Todd winds up with a life sentence while Judge Turpin (Nathan Zema) steals Todd’s wife, Lucy (Julia Kadar). Todd escapes incarceration and finds a young sailor to take him back to England and finally start his grand plan for revenge.

Upon his return, the barber was told that his wife has died and his daughter has been jailed by Turpin. Todd then collects his razors from Ms. Lovett (Rachel Lewandowski), the local meat pie baker and starts to plot his revenge tour, with her bakery being a key ingredient in their success.

Jeffrey was incredibly proud of her cast and crew for organizing this production in only five short weeks. She watched as her ensemble adapted to the time restraints, ensuring the show would be done on time and done right.

“We had to go full force. This crew made time during their busy schooldays to rehearse and learn the music,” she said. “They did a great job.”

Way takes the namesake role for the Red Masquers in “Sweeney Todd.” He explains how Todd’s character is more than just a revengeful barber with a sharp set of blades.

“I hope everyone can see that he’s a sympathetic character. At some points, you can’t blame him for being quite that angry,” Way said. “Love is his motivating force.”

“She’s evil at her core, and she disguises it very well,” Lewandowski said. “But she’s doing it all in the name of love. She just wants to have the love that she sees others have, and will do anything to guarantee that love.”

Lewandowski’s lead role is a part of her senior capstone project, giving her a year’s time and resources to dive deeper into the role and make it her own.

“There have been so many interpretations of Ms. Lovett, with many being dark or comedic,” she said. “I like to think I’m a mix of both. I like finding those moments where I let the audience see that something is brewing.”

Throughout the acts, the audience watches Todd lose himself as his plans slowly fall apart and he descends into a violent craze. He is constantly deceived as the play progresses, learning that no one can be trusted in this twisted town.

Props and visual effects are an essential part to the storytelling in “Sweeney Todd:” Throughout the show, there is a mix of farcical foods and gruesome visuals to pair with Todd’s blades.

“Our props chair is baking all of the pies you see on stage, and there will even be a bake sale during our shows,” Jeffrey said. “We have pies, razors, barber capes and blood. It’s a very prop-heavy show.”

Altogether, the Red Masquer’s production has a powerful presence for those who aren’t familiar with it, and a modern twist that will engage long-time fans.

“It’s dark, fun and chaotic. There’s something for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

The Red Masquers performance of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” opens Thursday at 8 p.m. in Genesius Theater. General admission is $20, with student and senior tickets available for $15. To purchase tickets or get more information, visit redmasquers.com.