Book by hugh wheeler from an adaptation by christopher bond with designer simon kenny lighting designer amy mae sound designer matt stine music director matt aument. The demon barber of fleet street is a 2007 britishamerican musical crime horror movie directed by tim burton. The original tale became a staple of victorian melodrama and london urban legend. Mutiny 1970 sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street 1970 simple simon 1971. Sweeney todd original, musical, thriller, broadway opened in new york city mar 1, 1979 and played through jun 29, 1980. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street bond concord.
In this version of the old melodrama, todd has some grounds for his nefarious activities. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street by christopher bond. In this novel sweeney todd is just a despicable, delightfully, i might add. It was first performed at the crescent theatre, birmingham. 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. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street a musical thriller music and lyrics by stephen sondheim ben mingay is from an adaptation by christopher bond originally produced on broadway by richard barr, charles woodward, robert fryer, mary lea johnson, martin richards. Bond, borrowing from the count of monte christo, shakespeare. The mti study guide for sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street. Sweeney todd, describing him as a highly skilled barber and an incon spicuous individual, sweeney rises out of the grave and joins the song.
Sondheim was inspired to write his musical after seeing christopher bond s 1973 reimagining of the story. Synopsis the story of an east end of london barber with revenge in his heart and murder on his mind is an old one. It is based on the 1973 play of the same name by christopher bond. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street bond. It won the tony award for best musical and olivier award for best new musical. Up until christopher bonds 1973 retelling of the story, sweeney todd was a cartoonish, outrageous monster, slashing his way through customers with the exclamation ill polish him off. Lovett and opens his new barber practice above her failing meat pie shop. His gruesome story caught the public imagination yet again in 2008 when johnny.
Sweeney todd opened on broadway at the uris theatre on march 1, 1979 and ran for 557 performances. Christopher godfrey bond born 1945 is a british playwright whose 1973 retelling of the victorian tale sweeney todd formed the basis of stephen sondheims musical of the same name, with book by hugh wheeler. He shaved the faces of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard of again. Pbs sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street. Sweeney todd is perhaps the most atmospheric musical ever written and to this day remains the masterwork of stephen sondheim and hugh wheeler. 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 fictional character sweeney todd, though more specifically, the 1973 play sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street by christopher bond. The demon barber of fleet street, a 1959 musical and a 1960 ballet. 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. Bond gave sweeney a backstory and a motive beyond greed for his murderous ways revenge. Sweeney todd 1962, a fouract melodrama adapted from the string of pearls by brian j burton who also composed new songs and lyrics.
This dark 1979 tony awardwinner for best musical features music and lyrics by stephen sondheim and is based on the 1973 play sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street by christopher bond story. We cut from the blood to see the gentleman standing before us. The christopher bond play 1973, which sondheim and wheeler used as their model, frames the narrative as a social critique. In this novel sweeney todd is just a despicable, delightfully, i might add villainous figure, whom no one would feel sympathy with. In order to coverup the murder of pirelli, todd and mrs.
Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street music and lyrics by book by stephen sondheim hugh wheeler based on a version of sweeney todd by christopher bond directed by harold prince the cast in order of appearance sweeney todd george hearn anthony hope cris groenendad beggar woman sara woods mrs. Up until christopher bond s 1973 retelling of the story, sweeney todd was a cartoonish, outrageous monster, slashing his way through customers with the exclamation ill polish him off. Sweeney todd 1979, based on a version of the play by christopher bond, and meet me in st. Based on a version of the popular english melodrama sweeney toddby british playwright christopher bond, the show is set in fleet street and its environs in 19th century london. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bond imagined todd as a man betrayed by a corrupt justice system, adding the characters of judge turpin and. Christopher godfrey bond, maxwell shaw contributor 4. May 23, 2016 the story of the string of pearls is a blend of bloodcurdling victorian horror and pure melodrama. Lovett, his partner in crime, who bakes their flesh into meat pies.
Sweeney todd opened on broadway in 1979 and in the west end in 1980. The demon barber of fleet street, in a new adaptation by christopher bond. On the boat to london, sweeney todd befriends a young man, anthony hope, who inadvertently falls in love with. Sweeney todd, whose real name is benjamin barker, uses his new alias to resume work in his barber shop above mrs. In the musical adaptation by sondheim and book writer hugh wheeler, sweeney. Christopher bonds adaptation of sweeney todd message board. Sweeney todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the victorian penny dreadful serial the string of pearls 184647. 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. The demon barber of fleet street 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. Sweeney returns and gets his revenge on beadle bamford. I think that this version of sweeney todd will always be relevant, because it transcends the period it was written in. The story of sweeney todds cutthroat vengeance and mrs lovetts curiously toothsome pies has left a curdling, crimson trail for over 150 years. A musical thriller music and lyrics by stephen sondheim. Louis adapted from the 1949 mgm musical, contributed additional material for the musical pacific overtures 1976, and wrote a new. The author and his influences it was the christopher bond play that inspired sondheim and the shows book by hugh wheeler, but we tend, understandably, to credit sondheim with the lions share of creating sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street and bringing it to the stage. Now this malevolent tale comes lurching back to life in the masterly musical by stephen sondheim and hugh wheeler. I had heard it was grand guignol, and it was something that just knocked me out, sondheim recalled. Anthony falls in love with a young girl, the judges ward, who turns out to be todd s daughter. Christopher bond, hugh wheeler, and stephen sondheim 89 history of sweeney todd. July 2009 in sweeney todd we enter a dark dickensian world of corruption and human degradation, a society to which one could rightly apply the ancient latin tag canis canem edit dog eat dog, although here we move up the food chain to man eat man simply turning the. The demon barber of fleet street music and lyrics by stephen sondheim book by hugh wheeler based on a version of sweeney todd by christopher bond 18th december, 2006 page 1.
He trod a path that few have trod, did sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street. 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. Sondheim was inspired to write his musical after seeing christopher bonds 1973 reimagining of the story. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street represents the. Lovett anthony hope johanna tobias ragg judge turpin the beadle beggar woman adolfo pirelli jonas fogg company. 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. The company promises that todds tale will now be fully revealed. Victorian london under the name of sweeney todd, seeking revenge for the loss of his.
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. 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. A barber from fleet street, todd murders his customers and turns their bodies over to mrs. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street by christopher. Bond uses the theatre to comment on the oppressive mechanisms of a. The demon barber of fleet street written by john logan music and lyrics by stephen sondheim adapted from the stage musical sweeney todd. The story of the string of pearls is a blend of bloodcurdling victorian horror and pure melodrama. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street a musical thriller with music and lyrics by stephen sondheim and book by hugh wheeler.
This dark 1979 tony awardwinner for best musical features music and lyrics by stephen sondheim and is based on the 1973 play sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street by christopher bond. Based on a version of sweeney todd by christopher bond. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street bond by c. Lovetts struggling pie shop after being wrongfully sentenced to life. A musical thriller music and lyrics by stephen sondheim book. From an adaptation by christopher bond originally directed by harold prince orchestrations by jonathan tunick originally produced on broadway by richard barr, charles woodward, robert fryer. Bond imagined todd as a man betrayed by a corrupt justice system, adding the characters of judge turpin and lucy, in addition to transforming. Sondheims musical is, in fact, based on christopher bonds 1973 play, which introduced a psychological background to todds crimes he was the victim of a ruthless judge who raped his young. Stephen sondheims long and distinguished career is marked by many signs of success, including the fact. Christopher bond play 1973, which sondheim and wheeler used. Sondheim based his musical on a 1973 play by christopher bond. Sweeney toddas musical theatre20 characters in sweeney todd. Lovett, the pie maker, and provides her with fillings for her pies. It is an adaptation of stephen sondheim and hugh wheeler s tony award winning 1979 musical thriller about a serial killer in 19th century london.
Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street 1973, a play by the british playwright christopher bond. Unjustly imprisoned for 15 years, barber sweeney todd returns to 19th century london to take his revenge on the man who took him from his wife and young daughter. Sweeney todd is presented through special arrangement with music theatre international mti. It is based on the 1973 book by english author christopher bond. Lovett angela lansbury johanna betsy joslyn tobias ken jennings pirelli sal mistrella. It is nothing like stephen sondheim musical based on christopher bonds play. Lovett angela lansbury johanna betsy joslyn tobias ken jennings pirelli sal mistrella the. Todd at joan littlewoods stratford east theatre in.
Victorian opera 2015 sweeney todd education resource general 3 synopsis sweeney todd is a musical thriller set in 19th century england. Barrow street presents stephen sondheims sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street following a sold out run in london. Nov 08, 2019 sweeney todd 1979, based on a version of the play by christopher bond, and meet me in st. The judge intends to now make his ward johanna, his wife. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street bond c. 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. His need for vengeance becomes murderousand profitablewhen he partners with the unscrupulous mrs. Sweeney todd discovers that his wife is missing, presumed dead, and his now comingofage daughter, johanna, has. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by mti. He returns to avenge his family, accompanied by a sea captain, anthony, whose life he has saved. Bonds new version was a tiny play, still a melodrama, but it had a weight to it he also in. Sweeney todd returns to london after being imprisoned at botony bay only to find that his wife is dead and his daughter has been taken in as a ward by an evil judge.
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