In lab and on stage: Physics major Sofield '02 directs 'Sweeney Todd'

What do you get when you throw together an exiled barber, his dead wife, his abducted daughter and an evil judge? This unlikely hodge-podge of characters makes up Clifford Sofield '02's creative thesis project, "Sweeney Todd."

Based on the popular 19th century British melodrama, the musical follows the exploits of an ex-convict barber who returns home only to discover his wife dead and his daughter ab-ducted by the judge who sentenced him to exile.

With the help of his friend, a baker, the barber seeks revenge, thus heralding a tale of what Sofield describes as "lots of blood, adultery, treachery and just plain evil doings."

Yet Sofield is quick to point out, "Although it is based on melodrama, 'Sweeney Todd' is a highly sophisticated musical with a brilliant score — packed with action, wit, sensitivity and harsh realism."

Equally as versatile as his work, Sofield is a physics major who has served as president of the Princeton University Players, treasurer of the Performing Arts Council and mock trial competitor.

He is a self-described aficionado of crossword puzzles and foreign languages.

"I've taken German and Greek here and I think that if I had another chance at Princeton I might be a classics major."

Sofield is also a certificate student in the Program in Theater and Dance. The second semester of junior year, prospective directors draft proposals for creative thesis work. These shows must then undergo a selection process since the performance season can only accommodate four or five shows.

There were five available slots this year and Sofield's "Sweeney Todd" is one of six shows being performed (since two shows are double-billed). All thesis production directors share the same advisor, Roger Babb.

Like most theatrical productions, "Sweeney Todd" demands a large, committed staff. There are 19 actors, 12 musicians, set, lighting and costume designers, builders, electricians, producers, a music director and a director. In total, the program comprises 60 people. ..."'Sweeney Todd' is the ultimate group effort," Sofield said. "From my perspective, I have engaged in a collaborative creative process with Matt Lembo '02 [the music director], my designers and my actors.

"In the beginning, the creative team sits down and discusses the show to develop a unified vision of what direction we want the show to go in.

"Then everyone contributes their own pieces and it's my job to weave all of those pieces together into a cohesive whole. There are times that we disagree, there are big shifts in vision all through the design and rehearsal periods, but those things are part of the collaborative creative process."

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"Sweeney Todd," is a collaborative academic project for several students.

"Matt Lembo is music director for 'Sweeney,' " Sofield said. "This is his senior thesis for the music department. This is as much his project as mine. 'Sweeney' is so operatic that the music director's role is on the same level as the director's. Also, the students playing Sweeney, Mrs. Lovett and the Beggar Woman — Ben Beckley '03, Samara Abrams-Primack '02 and Giselle Woo '02— are all using this show as part of either their thesis work or their independent project."

Since February, the cast and crew have dedicated between four and 12 hours per day to the production of "Sweeney."

"I spent 250 hours in rehearsal alone . . . and another 50 hours working on the show outside of rehearsal is a conservative estimate," Sofield said.

Yet Sofield admits that the "Sweeney" project was only intended to be an "extracurricular thesis." As a physics major, he also directed "Copenhagen" in December and is currently writing his creative thesis on the physics described in the play.

"The idea to do "Copenhagen" as part of my physics thesis came last spring in Frist Cafe and I approached Professor Suzanne Staggs about it," he said.

"It is unusual to do a creative thesis for the physics department but because I am a certificate student and because there is so much actual physics in 'Copenhagen,' it made sense for me," he added.

Sofield's theatrical flair dates back to his days as a third grader, when he debuted as one of the children in his elementary school's production of "The Sound of Music." In middle and high school, Sofield was involved in 29 productions either as actor, producer or director.

Aside from "Sweeney" and "Copenhagen," he has also directed at Princeton "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Assassins" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Also at the University, he has starred in "Much Ado about Nothing," "Barefoot in the Park," "Beowulf, the Musical," "Noises Off" and "Hello Again."

Sofield expressed gratitude for the immense support he has received from his friends and family while working on "Sweeney."

"My parents have seen every show that I've done at Princeton — most of them twice."

Although pursuing a degree in physics, Sofield said he intends to go into theater professionally.

"Only time will tell in what fashion," he said. "It's a hard profession. But I love theater more than anything else that I do and I can't imagine leaving it."