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. It seems more likely that the sweeney todd we are familiar with today came from a story published in a series of instalments in a weekly magazine during 184647. Sweeney todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the victorian penny dreadful serial the string of pearls 184647. Sweeney todd was sentenced to a five year term in newgate prison wrongly accused of stealing a pocket watch. Sondheims sweeney is far more sensitive to moral concerns than the sweeney of either the original penny dreadful or the original theatrical adaptation by christopher bond.
A barber from fleet street, todd murders his customers and turns their bodies over to mrs. Helena bonhamcarter is british actress, one of the uks most successful actresses. We pride ourselves on an exceptionally high standard of craftsmanship which keeps our clients coming back time after time. He was mentored by lyricist and playwright oscar hammerstein ii, who told him his first effort by george was terrible. 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. It is perhaps interesting that the supposed reallife sweeney todd was a product of the east end a child haining described as having breathed the fetid air of the east end slums a largely. Characterscene breakdown attached below are two pdf files of the scene breakdown one for act i and one for act ii. Movies are my favorite outlet for entertainment, but for musicals such as this 1979 stephen sondheim gem sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street nothing comes close to the original stage production. There are 6 types of stage blood used in each performance of sweeney todd, and they come in a variety of thicknesses great for spurting and. Want a full resume for all the sweeney todd actors. This category is for questions and answers related to sweeney todd. The house in which the child first breathed the fetid air of the east london slums is not known, but it was probably near spitalfields.
The demon barber of fleet street is generally considered his greatest work, macabre but darkly humorous with a viscerally powerful score that has found a home both on broadway and in opera houses. However, hainings story is dismissed by historians as simply untrue. They caught the attention of brass at chrysalis records in the us. Most accounts say he was hanged at tyburn, the infamous spot for dispatching highwaymen now occupied by marble arch. 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. They have the songs and characters that are in each scene. He then proceeded to train him in every area of structuring.
Stephen sondheims victorian horror thriller sweeney todd. There are 6 types of stage blood used in each performance of sweeney todd, and they come in a variety of thicknesses great for spurting and dripping. According to peter haining, who outlined his theories in his book sweeney. His gruesome story caught the public imagination yet again in 2008 when johnny. Her father is raymond bonhamcarter, a merchant banker. Aug 20, 2019 here are 10 things you didnt know about the making of sweeney todd. A1so during the productions run, cris groenendaal and betsy joslyn took over the roles of anthony and johanna. Sweeney todd historical figures history yesterday channel. One of the darkest musicals ever written, sweeney todd. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street broadway. Oct 30, 2015 halloween might be over but heres some seriously scary facts about welsh national operas brand new musical production of sweeney todd which you can see here from 1921 november. The making of sweeney todd sweeney todd, a dark and enthralling tale of love, obsession and, ultimately, of redemption comes to bbc one shortly. Sep 16, 2015 beer is one of the worlds oldest and most popular beverages, so of course it stands to reason that it is also one of its most fascinating. After his execution, the facts about sweeney todd were rapidly distorted.
He is best known for works such as west side story, gypsy, into the woods, and sweeney todd. With johnny depp, helena bonham carter, alan rickman, timothy spall. Sweeney is also known as the demon barber of fleet street and benjamin barker. The demon barber of fleet street by stephen sondheim,847 ratings, 4. Lovett, his partner in crime, who bakes their flesh into meat pies. When revenge eludes him, sweeney swears vengeance on the entire human race, murdering as many people as he can, while his business associate mrs. Sweeney todd quizzes there are 36 questions on this topic. Sweeney todds is an independently owned hastingsbased hairdresser salon and barbers.
Halloween might be over but heres some seriously scary facts about welsh national operas brand new musical production of sweeney todd which you can see here from 1921 november. This is a rather offbeat duet from a rather offbeat musical, stephen sondheims sweeney todd. Called the string of pearls, the story was written by an anonymous author and proved to be a popular hit, published as a single story in britain and america before being taken to the. Pbs sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street. 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. But it was the release of roxy roller that made sweeney todd instant household names, eventually topping the canadian charts. In grand guignol stagings of the showthe most recent new york revival had characters pour blood back and forth between bucketsthis horror can overwhelm the moral content. It is based on the 1973 play of the same name by christopher bond sweeney todd opened on broadway in 1979 and in the west end in 1980. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street deluxe complete edition i had to buy the soundtrack, i couldnt get the wonderful music from this movie out of my head.
But if you want little known and random fun facts on all things sweeney todd, then youre in the right place. Musicals oz this category is for questions and answers related to sweeney todd, as asked by users of accuracy. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street facts for. Konstantin stanislavsky, in full konstantin sergeyevich stanislavsky, stanislavsky also spelled stanislavski, original name konstantin sergeyevich alekseyev, born january 5 january 17, new style, 1863, moscow, russiadied august 7, 1938, moscow, russian actor, director, and producer, founder of the moscow art theatre opened 1898. Chuck todd chuck todd is a moderator of meet the press, nbc news political director, adjunct professor, and johns hopkins university. Its todd now, sweeney todd, and he will have his revenge.
On march 4, 1980, dorothy loudon and george hearn took over the roles of mrs. Mar 07, 20 hi, we are doing sweeney todd in history and our hw is to find 5 facts aout sweeney plzz could you tell me somee facts x. The oldest recorded birth by the social security administration for the first name todd is wednesday, march 1st, 1876. This edition offers the original story with all its atmospheric victorian trimmings. Stephen sondheim bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Benjamin barker, later known as sweeney todd, is the main protagonist and title character of the broadway musical and its film adaptation. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street is a musical with a book by hugh wheeler and music and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Pine and blunt can definitely carry a tune, though, as proven in their duet any moment. It was directed by harold prince with musical staging by larry fuller, and starred len cariou as sweeney todd and angela lansbury as mrs. Ellen show prodigy sophia grace was originally slotted to. 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, whose unlikely musical thriller won eight tony awards. The story of todds murderous partnership with piemaker. Sweeney was born on 16th october 1756, at number 85 brick lane in londons east end. And the london dungeon wasnt the first to provide a sweeney todd experience.
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 name was first given to 5 or more babies in the year 1881 when it was given as a first name to 8 new born babies. Chuck was given the name charles david todd on april 8th, 1972 in miami. The demon barber of fleet street, including a plot synopsis, key songs and some background information. The original tale became a staple of victorian melodrama and london urban legend.
But if you want little known and random fun facts on all things sweeney todd, then youre in. In those times brick lane was almost a rural country lane that led out to the brickfields of bethnal green. The infamous story of benjamin barker, aka sweeney todd, who sets up a barber shop in london which. After hooking up with drummer john booth, bud marr on bass and keyboardist dan gaudin, they changed their name to sweeney todd, inspired by the stephen. Londons fleet street used to be home to what industry. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about sweeney todd. While in prison he met up with an old barber named elmer plummer, who was serving ten. Sweeney todd s first known appearance in print was in an 1846 penny dreadful, a type of horror tale of the era published in serial form, the peoples periodical. Sweeney todd opened on broadway in 1979 and in the west end in 1980.
It won the tony award for best musical and olivier award for best new musical. It is following this initial demonstration of violence. Country singer lyle lovett was once married briefly to. The demon barber of fleet street, as asked by users of. It is based on the 1973 play of the same name by christopher bond. His gruesome story caught the public imagination yet again in 2008 when johnny depp played him in tim burtons film sweeney todd. A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible. They followed it up with sweeney todd folder, backed with lets all do it again, released while the band was in the middle of a crosscanada tour.
Sweeney todds first known appearance in print was in an 1846 penny dreadful, a type of horror tale of the era published in serial form, the peoples periodical. Serving both men and ladies, as well as children too, theres been no head of hair that weve not seen. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street facts for kids. Nothing can top seeing a broadway musical live, and i do mean nothing. At this point, todd has judge turpin in his chair, the man who transported him to australia, raped his wife driving her to suicide and made todds daughter his ward. Mar 03, 2014 in sweeney todd, sondheim and wheeler have succeeded in writing a morality fable for a world that doubts the very existence of good and evil. The musical is based on the 19th century legend of sweeney todd and is similar to the 1973 play the string of pearls, by christopher bond. It is based on the 1973 book by english author christopher bond. Act one no place like london anthony, sweeney, beggar woman. At this point, todd has judge turpin in his chair, the man who transported him to australia, raped his wife driving her to suicide and made todd s daughter his ward. Dec 11, 2007 sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street deluxe complete edition i had to buy the soundtrack, i couldnt get the wonderful music from this movie out of my head. What are some quick facts about sweeney todd answers.