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Sat 04 Apr 2007The barbarous barber is backThe Gate's first major musical, Sweeney Todd, looks beyond the gore to the humanity of the famous cut-throat, writes Arminta WallaceIn 1784, a small but intriguing news item appeared in The Annual Register of London. "A most remarkable murder was perpetrated in the following manner," it declared, "by a journeyman barber that lives near Hyde Park Corner, who had been for a long time past jealous of his wife, but could in no way bring it home to her. A young gentleman by chance coming into his master's shop to be shaved and dressed; and, being in liquor, mentioned his having seen a fine girl home to Hamilton-Street, from who he had certain favours the night before, at the same describing her person; the barber, concluding it to be his wife, in the height of his frenzy, cut the gentleman's throat from ear to ear, and absconded."