Judge Turpin
Judge Turpin is a fictional character in the various adaptations of the story Sweeney Todd.
Character overview
In most adaptations, Turpin is the primary villain, who turns Sweeney Todd into a monster. He rapes Lucy Barker, Todd's wife, driving her insane, and unjustly exiles Todd to Australia. He then holds their daughter, Johanna, as his ward, and keeps her as a prisoner in his estate. He is aided in his corruption by his servant and constant companion, Beadle Bamford.
In Sweeney Todd
In Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Judge Turpin is first seen having Benjamin Barker arrested, due to his obvious infatuation with Barker's wife, Lucy. He exiles Barker to Australia on false charges. Lucy is heartbroken, and becomes a recluse, never coming down from her home. Judge Turpin continuously pursues her, sending her flowers each day. He sends Beadle to summon her to his home, "[Blaming] himself for her dreadful plight." He drugs Lucy and rapes her, driving her insane.
Turpin then takes Barker's daughter, Johanna, and raises her as his ward. He keeps her locked away from the world and spies on her through a peep-hole in her wall. Turpin eventually falls in love with the beautiful Johanna and offers her his hand in marriage. She refuses, to which he seems baffled. When he spots Anthony Hope "gandering" at Johanna, he has him beaten up and threatens to kill him if he ever returns. We next see Turpin sentencing a child to hang for petty crimes.
On Beadle Bamford's advice, he goes for a shave at Sweeney Todd's barber shop, in order to impress Johanna. Todd is about to cut Turpin's throat when he is interrupted by Anthony, who reveals Johanna's plan to escape. Turpin promptly leaves, renouncing Todd's business. Turpin returns home and finds Johanna gathering her things, in an attempt to run away. He sends away until she can "appreciate" what she has. Beadle grabs Johanna and takes her in a carriage to Fogg's Asylum.
Turpin receives a letter claiming that Johanna has repented, and only wants his love. He is delighted and, following the direction of the letter, goes to Todd's shop, where he is persuaded to have a shave. Turpin soon reveals Todd's true identity and is savagely stabbed by Todd in the neck before slitting his throat. He drops Turpin down the chute. In his death throes, Turpin grabs at Mrs. Lovett's skirt.
Performers
- Edmund Lyndeck played the original Judge Turpin.
- Alan Rickman played the role in Tim Burton's 2007 film adaptation of Sondheim's musical.
- Timothy Nolen played the role in 2001.
- Keith Buterbaugh portrayed Judge Turpin in the 2005 revival musical.