Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

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

The beggar woman approaches Mrs. Lovett at her pie shop, asking for alms. Mrs. Lovett mocks her and promptly shoos her away. Mrs. Lovett then goes to the apartment, now transformed into Todd’s barbershop. Todd is anxious that the Beadle hasn’t visited him yet, so Mrs. Lovett reassures him, telling him to be patient and preoccupy himself with distractions (“Wait”). She suggests decorating the barbershop with flowers so that it doesn’t seem so bare and gloomy. This placates Todd.

Anthony visits Todd at the barbershop and tells him about Johanna. He adds that after their first encounter, Johanna dropped a key from her window, intending for Anthony to enter after Turpin goes to court. Anthony explains his plan to take Johanna from the judge’s mansion and then asks if he can bring Johanna to the barbershop while he secures safe passage out of London. Mrs. Lovett and Todd consent to his plan, though neither one mentions the truth about Johanna’s identity. When Anthony leaves, Todd expresses dismay over the thought of losing Johanna again. Mrs. Lovett suggests killing Anthony to sate Todd’s bloodlust and then fantasizes about raising Johanna alongside Todd.