{
  "id": 16349630,
  "title": "‘Queeney Todd: The Demon Bottom of Fleet Street’ Off Broadway Review: How Dare They Do This to Sondheim",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/queeney-todd-the-demon-bottom-of-fleet-street-off-broadway-review-how",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-24T17:04:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/reviews/queeney-todd-the-demon-bottom-of-fleet-street-off-broadway-review/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The off-Broadway production \"Queeney Todd: The Demon Bottom of Fleet Street\" has sparked controversy by mocking the iconic Stephen Sondheim. Cole Escola's twisted take on Sweeney Todd features a homosexual character, Queeney Todd, who becomes frustrated when his Grindr dates cancel last minute. Mrs. Lovedick, a sex shop owner, rents him an apartment and later becomes his lover. A trick shows up and Queeney accidentally castrates him during an overzealous grooming session. With a focus on Sondheim's music, Queeney Todd features only three of the composer's original songs, with new and explicit lyrics. The show also incorporates themes from other composers like Puccini, Verdi, and Ginuwine. A climax occurs when a client demands the biggest cock in London, leading the Barber of Seville to perform a striptease that rivals Broadway Bares. The cabaret ending of Queeney Todd is an inventive send-up of Sondheim's \"Oh, Mary!\" finale. Kemar Jewel directs this drag extravaganza, which was collaboratively written and created by Jewel, Jacob Ashworth, Peregrine Teng Heard, and Garrett Bell.",
  "summary": "Is nothing sacred in today's theater? The post ‘Queeney Todd: The Demon Bottom of Fleet Street’ Off Broadway Review: How Dare They Do This to Sondheim appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [
    "Off-Broadway production mocks Stephen Sondheim.",
    "Features homosexual character Queeney Todd.",
    "Incorporates themes from Puccini, Verdi, Ginuwine."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}