Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and graphic violence.

Todd disguises Anthony as a wigmaker, handing him money and a pistol to liberate Johanna. He instructs Anthony to bring Johanna back to the parlor so that Anthony can arrange for transport out of London. When Anthony leaves, Todd writes a letter to Judge Turpin, informing him of Anthony’s plan (“The Letter”). He urges Turpin to come to the parlor to reclaim Johanna.

Mrs. Lovett and Tobias close the pie shop for the day. Mrs. Lovett is knitting a muffler and hints that it is for Tobias. This moves Tobias, who was frequently abused by Pirelli. He earnestly declares his resolve to protect Mrs. Lovett from harm (“Not While I’m Around”). Mrs. Lovett expresses her surprise over Tobias’s promises since she does not feel that her life is under any particular threat. Tobias explains that he is skeptical of Todd, generally believing that men are less trustworthy than women. Mrs. Lovett offers Tobias a bonbon from her purse, though Tobias immediately recognizes it as Pirelli’s purse. This bolsters his theory that Todd did something to Pirelli, who was last seen at Todd’s parlor.