Lucy Barker

Office character box
name = Lucy Barker/Beggar Woman


imagesize =
caption = Laura Michelle Kelly as Lucy Barker in the 2007 Sweeney Todd adaptation
portrayer = Merle Louise
Sara Woods
Laura Michelle Kelly
Victoria Clark
Diana Dimarzio
debut =
departure =
based on =
alias = The Beggar Woman
gender = Female
age = 30's to 50's
born = 1800s
date of death=
occupation = Housewife
spouse = Sweeney Todd
parent(s) =
child(ren) = Johanna Barker
sibling(s) =
other =

Lucy Barker is a fictional character that appears in some versions of the story "Sweeney Todd".

Character overview

In most versions, she is the faithful and loving wife of Benjamin Barker and mother of Johanna Barker, whose life is destroyed by Judge Turpin, who exiles her husband in order to have her to himself. Soon afterward, Turpin rapes her, and she poisons herself with arsenic. She survives, but goes insane and disappears to live as a beggar, surviving on alms. Her husband believes she is dead, and becomes a serial killer bent on revenge.

In "Sweeney Todd"

Lucy Barker is the wife of Benjamin Barker, a barber in London's Fleet Street. They are happily married and have a new baby, Johanna. Judge Turpin is immediately captivated by Lucy's beauty and has Barker arrested and exiled so that he may obtain her for himself. Lucy ignores his pursuit, staying faithful to her husband, never leaving home. Finally, she is called to Turpin's estate, led to believe that the judge feels responsible for her plight and wants to help her. This is not the case: Lucy arrives at Turpin's masquerade ball, where he drugs and rapes her. Lucy is so distraught that she attempts to kill herself with poison, but survives and is driven insane. She has nearly forgotten everything that was dear to her and wanders the streets of London as a homeless beggar. When Barker, under the alias of "Sweeney Todd", returns years later, Mrs. Lovett, who is in love with him, leads him to believe that Lucy is dead. to cut his throat with his own razor, leaving them dead in each other's arms.

Performers

*Merle Louise appeared in the original 1979 Broadway adaptation. She won a Drama Desk award for best featured actress.
*Dilys Watling played her in the 1980 London Production.
*Sara Woods played the role in 1982.
*Victoria Clark played her in the 2001 adaptation.
*Diana Dimarzio played Lucy in the 2005 Broadway revival.
*Laura Michelle Kelly portrayed Lucy in the 2007 film adaptation, "".
* Julie Orlando is slated to play Lucy in the 2008 Prince George adaptation.

References

http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0032103/