Fact: there has never been a more inventive, clever and creepy adaptation of Sweeney Todd before. What ‘Finger in the pie’ company have done is a bold move, moving away from the renowned Broadway musical, and reinvented Sweeney’s story for the new theatre-goer. With its blend of puppetry, live music, vaudeville and some of the best acting seen in the Fringe this year, ‘Finger in the pie’ have created a beautiful, perfect production, that will have you both at the edge of your seat awaiting for what comes next, and at the same time, laughing out loud.
Though the story follows more or less the same basic idea of a kid that grows up to be the best barber in town, Sweeney isn’t the strong character we know him to be, but a creation of society and misfortune, who have shaped him to become what he finally is: a murderer. But, in this case, a murderer by mistake, by trial and error, and because of this, in his final moments, we don’t have the gore-fest, supposedly redeeming quality of a public hanging, but the heartache of seeing someone who, without him wanting, has become the scorn of London in the 18th Century. We feel for Sweeney, we want Sweeney to succeed, not to perish for something he really didn’t mean to do.
But fear not, this is not a drama, nor a soap opera, but a burlesque retelling of the barber’s story, and an amazingly wonderful one, with all the actors playing different roles and prancing around on stage at all times, purposely overacting their characters for comedy effect. The set is beautifully presented from the start, when you enter to the room full of fog, and the actors help you find your seat. The props are stunning in their simplicity and their usefulness. The music fits wonderfully with the circus-like production.
There is nothing to fault, and far too much to praise, ‘Sweeney Todd: His Life, Times and Execution!’ is, without a doubt, the best show this year.
5/5 
Adrian G. Velazquez
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