We have here a terrific concert performance of "A Little Priest," the Act One closer of the musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. I guess most of you know that this is the play with a book by Hugh Wheeler and songs by Stephen Sondheim. The next paragraph is just for those of you unfamiliar with the plot…
Sweeney Todd is a man who has returned to his home town after fifteen years in a penal colony on bogus charges. Having lost everything, he now lives only for revenge on humanity in general and more specifically on those he blames for his ordeal. In this scene, he's making a pact with a lady named Mrs. Lovett who operates a store that bakes and sells meat pies. Their partnership will be based on him killing people and her using their remains to make pies. A lovely arrangement.
Mrs. Lovett is played here by Patti LuPone, one of the great stars of the musical stage. Mr. Todd is played by George Hearn, one of my favorite musical performers. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Hearn years ago and told that story here. This clip may give you a little idea of why I was so enthused about writing something that he'd be performing…
