Razor sharp horror for Halloween season

Mullingar Musical Society to stage Sweeney Todd at arts centre

Published: Fri 11 Oct 2024, 5:37 PM

As we enter haunting season and Halloween looms, Mullingar Musical Society is bringing spooky entertainment to the stage with Sweeney Todd at Mullingar Arts Centre.

Sweeney Todd has become a global success since being awarded eight Tonys, including Best Musical, for its Broadway premiere.

Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat has simultaneously shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world.

Mullingar Musical Society has a full orchestra and stellar community adult cast lined up for their October 30 to November 2 production.

Sweeney Todd is a musical thriller about a 19th century London barber who goes on a murderous rampage to seek vengeance against the evil Judge Turpin (Stephen Cummins) for framing him and assaulting his wife.

Todd, played in this production by Ray Purcell, rents a room over the premises of Mrs Lovett (Jemma Purcell), owner of a struggling pie shop.

His thirst for blood soon expands to include not only the judge, but also his unfortunate customers.

Meanwhile, Mrs Lovett happily puts the bodies of the victims in the meat grinder and uses them in her pies – which become extremely popular with the citizens of London.

Other members of the cast include Meghan Bates as Johanna, Enda Keating as Anthony Hope, Sean McDonnell as Tobias Ragg, Meabh Ryan as the Beggar Woman, Anna Casey as Pirelli, and Ger Dunne as Beadle Bamford.

The show will run at Mullingar Arts Centre from October 30 to November 2, at 8pm nightly.

Special preview price tickets are available for the opening night for €12.50; regular price tickets are €17.60/€16 for the remaining nights, including Halloween night.

Booking at mullingarartscentre.ie or 04493 47777.