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. Michael ball and imelda staunton lead a cast of 25 in the captivating musical thriller, sweeney todd playing at chichester festival theatre until 5. Lovett, sweeneys amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. Unlike depps version, this one with ray winstone the proposition, the departed, sexy beast, beowulf is a truer picture of the dark and grimy london of the 18th century. Michael ball is a brooding, bruiser of a sweeney todd.
Sweeney todd michael cerveris guitar, orchestra bells, percussion. Sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street 1973, a. Although its fictional, the sweeney todd story has endured for over 250 years because it draws on primal fears and taboos. Following a sell out smash hit run at chichester festival theatre in the autumn of 2011, jonathan kents revived production of sweeney todd transferred to the west ends adelphi theatre. Sweeney toddsweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street movie costumes through time in sweeney todd, at pirates cave. We want a dvd of sweeney todd the chichester theatre production. Sweeney todd won best musical, best book by hugh wheeler and best score, as well as five other tony awards for its broadway premiere in 1979. 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. This ambition will be reached from september till november 2011.
I saw the original sweeney todd on broadway w len cariou and angela lansbury. The demon barber of fleet street, chichester festival theatre. The notorious career of sweeney todd, the demon barber of fleet street, has been endlessly retold. He will be joined on stage by oscar nominee and bafta winner imelda staunton. Sweeney todd the musical was hugely acclaimed at the chichester festival theatre. Sweeney todd as he admires one of his efficient razors after a long absence. Jonathan kents production relocates hugh wheelers book. 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. It is based on the 1973 play of the same name by christopher bond.
Sweeney is bent on revenge for the death of his wife and has started to murder indiscriminately and suddenly meat for the pie shop next door is no longer in short supply. The demon barber of fleet street and the 2007 liveaction film of the same name. Sweeney todd is subtitled a musical thriller which perfectly describes jonathan kents electrifying new production. Following sellout success at chichester festival theatre, jonathan kents acclaimed production of sweeney todd transferred to londons west end for a limited season from 10 march 2012. Opening at chichester festival theatre as part of festival 2011, now stephen sondheims. 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 bleeds, the more he lives. At sweeney todds we pride ourselves in great attention to detail and excellent customer service. He is a psychopathic barber who desires to get revenge on the corrupt judge turpin for.
I loved it so much i am looking for other versions. 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. Jonathan kents sellout production of sweeney todd transfers to londons adelphi theatre for a limited season from 10 march 2012. It was first performed at the crescent theatre, birmingham. A giant of contemporary musical theatre, celebrated for the inventive sophistication of his melodies and lyrics, his landmark works also include company, follies and sweeney todd, produced at chichester in 2011. Depp stars as the demon barber of fleet street, joined by helena bonham carter as mrs. Lovett, they often chose vulnerable victims, like sex workers or lone travelers, who might be isolated or estranged from friends or family. The demon barber of fleet street summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching sweeney todd. Lovetts struggling pie shop, sweeney todd plots revenge on the lecherous judge who wronged him and his family. For several years michael kept saying that one of his big ambition was to play sweeney todd. Sweeney todd 1962, a fouract melodrama adapted from the string of pearls by brian j burton who also composed new songs and lyrics. Sweeney todd represents a radical advance within the tradition of the popular musical theater. Stephen sondheim michael ball, imelda staunton sweeney. Im not sure tim burtons sweeney todd is grand, but im confident its in the best grand guignol tradition of sensational stage horror given its name from that little theater in early 20th century paris that specialized in sensationally ghoulish productions.
Charles spencer was less than persuaded by johnthan kents production of stephen sondheims sweeney todd. Sweeney todd is perhaps the most atmospheric musical ever written and to this day remains the masterwork of stephen sondheim and hugh wheeler. But this is the first time the original tale has been reprinted since it was serialized in the peoples periodical in 18467. In this transfer from chichester it is staged and sung and acted with verve. Music and lyrics stephen sondheim, book hugh wheeler. We want a dvd of sweeney todd the chichester theatre. Widely acknowledged as stephen sondheims musical masterpiece, sweeney todd stars distinguished. The lighting design for this scene of sweeney todd draws focus to the two characters on the platform by having high intensity light on them. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Lovett, sweeney s amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. Sweeney todds barbershop book appointments online booksy.
This is the full book and lyrics of stephen sondheims musical based on the famous 19thcentury melodrama. That may be the calculation behind stephen sondheims sweeney todd. Best musical book hugh wheeler best score stephen sondheim. He hardly smiles, even when hes engaged in musical banter with mrs lovett, and his hair falls over his forehead almost casting a sinister shadow over his entire persona, taking its cue from the line in the first song from the ensemble who tell us todd served a dark and vengeful god. Archive for sweeney todd at chichester festival theatre. 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. Michael ball and imelda staunton lead a cast of 25 in the captivating musical thriller, sweeney todd. We would like a dvd of the amazing production of sweeney todd of the chichester festival theatre, starring michael. 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. Sweeney todd formerly known as benjamin barker is the protagonist of the 1979 musical sweeney todd. I loved the story of sweeney todd after seeing johnny depp do the musical number. The characters on the main stage are washed over with low intensity, blue light, which allows them to blend into the dull colored set. Doesnt kent realise you gotta get a gimmick is from a different sondheim show. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street music and lyrics by stephen sondheim, book by hugh wheeler, from an adaptation by christopher bond chichester festival theatre production.
As one of the few not to receive a major production in london in his 80th birthday year, the 1979 show sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street now receives attention from chichester festival theatre with an excellent revival that will surely end up in the west end in due course. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street villains. Johnny depp and tim burton join forces again in a bigscreen adaptation of stephen sondheims awardwinning musical thriller sweeney todd. He has been blessed with the sweeneymrs lovett pairing of ones dreams in michael ball and imelda staunton. Now, baz bamigboye of the uk daily mail has revealed that stephen sondheim has given director jonathan kents chichester festival theatre production of sweeney todd with michael ball and imelda. Sweeney todd the demon barber of fleet street music and lyrics by stephen sondheim book by hugh wheeler directed by kent nicholson january 19 february 16, 2019 segerstrom stage. With the dynamite pairing of michael ball and imelda staunton. This new production marks sondheims 90th birthday year.