'Sweeney Todd' not high school material

I have not seen the play, "Sweeney Todd," which is Geneva High School's musical scheduled for March 18-20, and I don't wish to see it. No doubt "Showboat" or "Music Man" would be of little interest to those paid to make these kinds of decisions.

The note in the announcement says, "Due to mature subject matter, the show is not recommended for young children," which should tip us off that this is not for general audiences.

Do we really need this content in our high school?

The Broadway musical from 1979 has been featured in several movies and is a story of a London barber who dumps his customers into the basement and slits their throats? He robs his victims while his lover bakes their flesh into meat pies, selling them to unsuspecting customers of her pie shop? Mmm, delicious.

While we are concerned about school ranking, athletics and the number of National Honor Society finalists, we could do better than present a corrupt, sinister and dark play in these times when we experience real hatred and disrespect in our schools and public buildings.

Perhaps we are fortunate this play is not a "comedy" or is that the direction we are headed?

Mark Anderson

St. Charles