The infamous story of benjamin barker, aka sweeney todd, who sets up a barber shop in london which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, mrs. The demon barber of fleet street 2007 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. It is based on the sondheim musical of the same name, which was based on the christopher bond version of the. The beadles character is a carbon copy of judge turpin. There are so many sweeney todd quotes that can help you when you are tired of being in the same old rut, and all you need is a little push, a little inspiration, a smile on the face, change of mood, bring you out of the. Sweeney is a dark character bent on revenge and ruthless when it comes to getting what he wants.
Anthony and the police arrive, the boy is grinding the mincer. This tale was originally titled as a romance, which is definitely evident in the narrative as it reads as more of a romance than a horror or thriller, which i was a little disappointed by. The amazing thing is that he is, if not a sympathetic character to the end, certainly an understandable one. The demon barber of fleet street characters the beadle. Tony and olivier awardwinning actress lea salonga miss saigon returns to singapore to star in one of the greatest musicals of all time sweeney todd. Sweeney todd discovers that his wife is missing, presumed dead, and his now comingofage daughter, johanna, has been raised all this time by the evil judge turpin.
One of the darkest musicals ever written, sweeney todd. This tale was originally titled as a romance, which is definitely evident in the narrative as it reads as more of a romance than a. Jan 31, 1974 sweeney todd is perhaps the most atmospheric musical ever written and to this day remains the masterwork of stephen sondheim and hugh wheeler. Join the stageagent community to read our character analysis for johanna and unlock other amazing theatre resources. Lovett and george hearn as sweeney todd themestory. On the boat to london, sweeney todd befriends a young man, anthony hope, who inadvertently falls in love with. The story is wellwritten, and i loved the wellrounded characters, especially tobias ragg.
They were not the people playing them in the stage show, just in. Johanna is sweeney todd and his wife lucys daughter, who was stolen from the barber many years ago by judge turpin who has taken her in as his ward. Sweeney todd original cast recording original cast recording on allmusic 1979 sweeney todd is of course the tale of a. After 15 long years, sweeney todd returns from wrongful exile and reopens his barber shop on fleet street in london. It is based on the 1973 play of the same name by christopher bond. Lovett, and, experiencing his own mad epiphany, vows. The demon barber of fleet street, the title role has been through a variety of characterizations while being constantly compared to stephen sondheims traditional stage production. Sweeney todd play analysis by nathan cabrera on prezi.
A sensational story of murder and piemaking, sweeney todd is a class. The judge intends to now make his ward johanna, his wife. The original tale became a staple of victorian melodrama and london urban legend. A musical thriller is the unsettling tale of a victorianera barber who returns home to london after fifteen years of exile to take revenge on the corrupt judge who ruined his life. Johanna barker is benjamin barker aka sweeney todd s daughter story edit. The demon barber of fleet street includes a complete plot overview. With johnny depp, helena bonham carter, alan rickman, timothy spall. The demon barber of fleet street was the rage of broadway when it premiered, winning eight tony awards including best musical and best original score. My name is chassitti and i will be guiding you through this quiz with the help of the. Book by hugh wheeler, based on christopher bonds stage version of the story. A story called the string of pearls was published in a weekly magazine during the winter of 184647. Sweeney todd historical figures history yesterday channel. But this is the first time the original tale has been reprinted since it was serialized in the peoples periodical in 18467.
Unaware that johanna is his friend todds daughter, anthony is immediately. In the years since, it has migrated to the worlds opera houses, thanks to its thrilling score full of magnificent solos and sophisticated ensembles and its largerthanlife characters. Sweeney todd, and mrs lovett, bobbie, pseudolus, george and dot, fosca. They were not the people playing them in the stage show, just in tim burtons film. Also, unlike in the musical, the original sweeney todd and mrs. The character of sweeney todd originated in the string of pearls. Killing is an attempt to assuage his very visible pain, to heal himself. Dec 11, 2007 johnny depp and tim burton join forces again in a bigscreen adaptation of stephen sondheims awardwinning musical thriller sweeney todd. The original victorian classic dover horror classics by james malcolm rymer, thomas peckett prest, et al. The demon barber of fleet street 1979 is a musical and thriller set in victorian england about a murderous barber who extracts revenge on unsuspecting people in london for the cruel abuse of his wife.
See a note on analyses for more information on this type of post. The fifteen book musicals of his to reach broadway have no fewer than 268 separate named characters. Lovett, sweeneys amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. Sondheims accomplishment in creating the musical sweeney todd is monumental and its supreme element is its title character who is shown at many steps in his transition from man to monster. He has a soft side when it comes to his longlost wife and daughter. As his name suggests, throughout the play, anthony is a. Was born benjamin barker and used to be married to lucy, before judge turpin sent him to australia on a false charge, raped his wife, and adopted his daughter. School edition with music and lyrics by stephen sondheim and book by hugh wheeler. The character of sweeney todd was played by johnny depp in a disturbingly twisted. The demon barber of fleet street from the early 1970s. Sweeney todd is perhaps the most atmospheric musical ever written and to this day remains the masterwork of stephen sondheim and hugh wheeler. Since the release of tim burtons movie adaptation of sweeney todd. Johnny depp and tim burton join forces again in a bigscreen adaptation of stephen sondheims awardwinning musical thriller sweeney todd.
He is johannas father, singularly focussed on taking bloody revenge. The demon barber of fleet street characters hugh wheeler this study guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of sweeney todd. The demon barber of fleet street and the 2007 liveaction film of the same name. Sondheim is trying to make a very big statement in sweeney todd. The real story of the demon barber of fleet street, the cutthroat barber was a very real person who has simply been ignored by historians. This is actually the string of pearls, an entirely different portrait of todd. Depp stars as the demon barber of fleet street, joined by helena bonham carter as mrs. Set in 1785, the story featured as its principal villain a certain sweeney todd and included all the plot elements that were used by sondheim and others ever since. His determination for revenge twists him into something violent and evil. Apr 27, 2016 sondheim is trying to make a very big statement in sweeney todd. She was his reason and his life and together they had a daughter named johanna. Before todd went to jail he was a kind, lighthearted young man, but after the judge persecutes him for a crime he did not commit simply to be with rape todds wife, he emerges from prison a much darker and villainous man. The demon barber of fleet street first appeared in the 1830s in england and was soon adapted for the london stage.
After 15 years benjamin returns to london and had his name changed to sweeney todd. The demon barber of fleet street is a 1979 musical thriller with music and lyrics by stephen sondheim and book by hugh wheeler. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street villains. He is a psychopathic barber who desires to get revenge on the corrupt judge turpin for destroying his family. The demon barber of fleet street, sondheim uses symbolism in a few different ways. Anthony hope tells todd about his plan to run away with johanna. The musical had very memorable songs and moments in the play that stuck with me.
Lovett, his partner in crime, who bakes their flesh into meat pies. A wronged barber exiled by a corrupt judge returns to dickensian london to quench his thirst for vengeance in stephen sondheims macabre musical thriller. Starring denis quilley as sweeney todd, julia mckenzie as mrs lovett, adrian lester as anthony hope, sheila reid as beggar womanlucy, carol starks as johanna, philip curtis as the bird seller. The character of sweeney todd had its origins in serialized victorian popular fiction, known as penny dreadfuls. A barber from fleet street, todd murders his customers and turns their bodies over to mrs.
Instead of using a traditional symbol of light, fire, or a certain color, we will look at something a little more in depth. She told him that lucy died poisoning herself and his daughter was taken by judge turpin. The demon barber of fleet street often referred to simply as sweeney todd is a 1979 musical with music and lyrics by stephen sondheim and a book by hugh wheeler. Sweeney does not discover that the desperate and miserable beggar woman is his wife. The roll call is a veritable who is whom of musical characters. The characters in sweeney todd feel impelled to take these horrific actions. The notorious career of sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street, has been endlessly retold. The dark make up under almost every character s eyes added to the dark tone of the play. Desiring his wife, lucy, judge turpin fabricated several charges that sent todd to australia. A youthful sailor who helps sweeney return to london and unexpectedly falls in love with johanna. Featuring rock icon jett pangan as the titular character, and lea salonga as mrs. The demon barber of fleet street is a 2007 tim burton film starring johnny depp, alan rickman, and helena bonhamcarter.
This edit will also create new pages on comic vine for. View mobile site jokeypsych endgamehonest galaxyquest. It tells the story of a barber sweeney todd benjamin barker, who returns to london after being wrongfully charged and shipped off to a penal colony, australia. Oct 23, 2016 see a note on analyses for more information on this type of post.
It is based on the 1973 book by english author christopher bond. His brutality emerges as he breaks the neck of the bird that anthony has bought for johanna. Put up in a fashionable hairstyle, with a deep color like red or dark brown. Lovett bakes the bodies into meat pies and sells them to the unsuspecting public. According to peter haining, who outlined his theories in his book sweeney todd. However, in auditions and performance, his vulnerable side should be in play. However, i strongly suggest you read this book if you are a fan of sweeney todd. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street sondheim.
Sweeney todd opened on broadway in 1979 and in the west end in 1980. Sweeney todd a wrongfully imprisoned barber seeking to right the wrongs committed against him. Victorian opera 2015 sweeney todd education resource general 3 synopsis sweeney todd is a musical thriller set in 19th century england. A sensational story of murder and piemaking, sweeney todd is a classic of british horror writing, widely adapted in print and on stage, most famously by stephen sondheim. Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Lovett, sweeney s amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. Though the character sweeney todd dates back to the 19th century, sondheim and wheelers musical is adapted from christopher bonds play sweeney todd. He shaved the faces of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard of again he trod a path that few have trod, did sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street from the ballad of sweeney todd. When sweeney todd shouts in anguish at this news, mrs. I think your sister is referring to the following section in the final number. When revenge eludes him, sweeney swears vengeance on the entire human race, murdering as many people as he can, while his business associate mrs. If i contrary to the cover, this book is not the version of sweeney todd seen in the tim burton film or stephen sondheim stage musical.
Sweeney wishes the world away, sweeneys weeping for yesterday, hugging the blade, waiting the years, hearing the music that nobody hears. This tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat has simultaneously shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world since it first opened on broadway. Music and lyrics written by stephen sondheim based on hugh wheelers book, adapted by christopher bond. Based on a 1970 play by christopher bond, this retelling of the story of the demon barber of fleet street first appeared in 1979 and boasts a the more he. The set used was one i had never seen before and it was very efficient. Morose and brooding, a barber by profession, newly arrived in. When stephen sondheim, the celebrated producer of hit broadway musicals, saw a version of the play in london in the mid 1970s, he asked hugh wheeler to collaborate with him on a musical adaptation. Judge turpin leaves, swearing that boy and barber are obviously in league. A wrongfully imprisoned barber seeking to right the wrongs committed against him. Sep 30, 2010 the demon barber of fleet street sweeney todd.
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