Maybe you saw a bunch of nice-looking people dressed up for cold weather and standing in a block-long line last night around 49th and Broadway? They were waiting to get their copy of the new "Sweeney Todd" CD signed by the show's cast and its composer, Stephen Sondheim.

I mean it, the line went on forever. It may still be there.

Inside the Eugene O'Neill Theater, the "Sweeney Todd" cast got a standing O after its Tuesday night show, which was sold out.

Considering it's January and the show opened on Nov. 3, I was a little surprised. But there was electricity in the air.

Since the opening, the show seems to have improved somehow; it was pretty good to begin with. The actors still double as the actual musicians, singing all their parts and playing all the instruments. It's an extraordinary thing to watch as they move about the stage. They are also all attractive. The only thing they don't do is dance.

Last night, Tony winner Brian Dennehy sat in the aisle, fifth row, and almost got a close shave himself from Michael Cerveris as Sweeney Todd. I asked him if he was planning to do another turn on Broadway soon.

"I want to get into a hit TV show and make some money!" Dennehy quipped.

In fact, they should put him in charge of "Law & Order" or "ER." He can do anything.

The new "Sweeney Todd" is a little like German Expressionist theater. It takes some getting used to. But by second viewing, it all seems to make sense.

Cerveris is doing yeoman work as Sweeney, a hugely demanding role for which he will soon be thanked with many awards. Patti Lupone, I predict, will win the Tony Award in June for playing Mrs. Lovett as kind of a '60s biker chick. She's just stunning.

I did ask her and Sondheim if they knew anything — after 25 years of this — about Mr. Lovett.

"He's deceased," Patti said, almost in character.

"That's for Sweeney 2," Sondheim laughed.