"Sweeney Todd" is the quintessential penny-dreadful tale that typifies what cheap thrill Halloween stories are all about. 4th Wall Theatre's concert version of Stephen Sondheim's musical, which opened on October 29, will put you right in the mood for Halloween night's performance.

Residing at Westminster Arts at the corner of Franklin and Fremont Streets, adjacent to the Bloomfield College campus, in New Jersey, the pocket-sized stage can barely contain the hugeness of the voices or the stories. The Ensemble is entirely in black with the exception of our two pure heroes and our pure heroine with suggestions of costuming or props here and there. The amazing Kate Swan directs this concert version, and musical direction is by the extremely talented Lisa LeMay. Gwen Ricks-Spencer's deft lighting and Matt Burns' subtle background soundscape complete the wonder.

Two banks of chairs flank a central staircase that acts as Sweeney's penthouse tonsorium and in the lower reaches acts as Mrs. Lovett's pie shop. Small set pieces are added now and then, and some are reconfigured, but look to subtle gestures and not so subtle light and sound to signal the violence and mayhem. The abrupt changes in sound and lighting are more fiercely frightening than if we saw blood, Broadway-style, as the swift coordination of the two are jarring to the senses, and instantly transport one shockingly out of the moment.

The cast includes Xavier Rice and Erin Edelle as our daring duo, who are well matched vocally and while Rice's Sweeney smolders, Edelle's Mrs. Lovett seethes with seamy schemes. Stu Scheer as Judge Turpin and James Lopez as Beadle Bamford make an equally well matched pair. Young lovers Joanna and Anthony are played byTracy Espiritu and Chris Cantalupo, as winsome a pair as could be, for appeal to the audience. There were several sighs when the two kissed at different points in the show-so young and fresh compared to the jaded men and women around them. Mandy Feiler, most recently seen as Sally in 4th Wall's "The Wild Party," expertly plays the mysterious Beggar Woman, the Greek Chorus interlocutor who weaves a thread throughout. Tom Waltz is a true standout as Tobias. It's difficult for adults to play the very young and Waltz' freshness and connection with his inner boy are wonderful to behold. His heartfelt rendition of "Nothing's Gonna Harm You" is spot-on perfect. Jason Tamashausky's Pirelli is a tour de farce. His showmanship during the shaving challenge is impressive and his venom in Todd's shop is palpable. Changing abruptly from English accent back to Italian for what is to be Pirelli's swan song is perfection as well.

The strong ensemble includes a cast of 4th Wall habitués worth reckoning with, including Jeffrey Dopson, Lenny Gallo, Jodi Freedman-Maloy and Rich Maloy, Terri Gorgone and Cindy Summers. With all acting as living scenery, chorus, conscience and court of opinion, it's most enjoyable to watch each individual and what she and he bring to the consumption of Mrs. Lovett's pies.

Musicians Phil Vella and Markus Hauck, under the direction and participation of LeMay, create a sense of energy exchanged with the ensemble and keep the evening moving at a feverish pace toward the inevitably tragic ending. Todd's forbidding anger, which roughens Rice's voice at times, contrasts with Edelle's Mrs. Lovett's conniving to finally get the man of her dreams, only to gain an understanding of what it means not to be careful where one places one's wishes. The consuming tragedy of the ending holds out some hope that Johanna and Anthony may transcend the darkness of the beginnings of their love to live the legacy Benjamin Barker had hoped for himself and his Lucy. 4th Wall is "theatre on the edge," and in this case, it's the razor's edge.

Through October 31, see "Sweeney Todd" at Westminster Arts.

Visit www.4thWallTheatre.org or call 973/566-WALL (9255) for more details. This show has a high likelihood of selling out so get there early! Showtime is 8 p.m.