Students' Necks Cut With Real Razors During 'Sweeney Todd' Performance Gone Wrong

Students hospitalized after getting their necks cut with real razors during 'Sweeney Todd' performance.

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Complex Original

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A performance of Sweeney Todd got too real when high school students were sent to the hospital after getting their necks cut by razors. A similar instance of art colliding with real life ended in an actor being killed by a Samurai sword during rehearsal.  

The terrifying incident happened at the New Zealand high school Saint Kentigern College Auckland on opening night of Sweeney Todd Mashablereports citing TVNZ.  

Sweeney Todd is a 1979 musical about a serial killing English barber who murders people. He would then process their bodies into meat pies with the help of his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett. Sweeney Todd hit the big screen in 2007 when Tim Burton did an adaptation of it starring Johnny Depp (as Sweeney Todd) and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett. 

According toMashable the victims were two 16-year-old boys who were hospitalized. One of them reportedly had moderate injuries while the other had more severe ones. 

The Head of College at Saint Kentigern, Steve Cole, toldTVNZ the razor blade had been blunted in order to be used safely, which it had been during rehearsals dating as far back as January. 

Cole explained, "It was from a prop that was covered in all sorts of duct tape, foam and silver paper. It was an unfortunate, isolated incident which we are very disturbed about."

Cole also told TVNZ the school was launching an investigation into the incident.

"We are very concerned about the accident at our school last night and we are investigating the causes of this," Cole said. "We are pleased that both boys are in a stable condition and have been talking with both their families. Our priority is to support the boys and their families, along with the rest of the cast and crew."

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