Results: Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (the musical)
Published on 12/15/2023
Sweeney is 1979 stage musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, story by Hugh Wheeler. "Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd. His skin was pale, and his eye was odd. He shaved the faces of gentlemen, who never thereafter were heard of again..."
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1.
1.
Sweeney is a fictional barber who first appeared in a penny dreadful called A String of Pearls in 1846. The macabre tale has him seeking revenge killing customers with a razor, his partner Mrs. Lovett making use of the bodies. He's appeared in various media over the years including the 1979 musical. Were you familiar with Sweeney before now?
Yes - have seen the musical, film adaptation, maybe some other source.
24%
426 votes
Maybe - have heard the name before, but no details
27%
478 votes
No - never heard of the guy until now.
31%
558 votes
Not Applicable
19%
338 votes
2.
2.
The ballad - the musical opens with a song that sets up the character Sweeney and his deeds. It's probably the best known tune, yet Tim Burton didn't include it in his 2007 film, feeling why have a song about him when the musical is going to tell us? What is your thought, should have been kept?
Yes - it is the signature tune of the musical, and pretty common for a chorus to fill the audience in at the time this is set (mid 1800's).
20%
368 votes
No - not really needed since the story is going to tell us. Even Sweeney himself says "...well that's the play, and he wouldn't want us to give it away"
24%
433 votes
N/A - not into musicals, never watched any version or the video, etc.
56%
999 votes
3.
3.
The Worst Pies in London - While there is no historical evidence Sweeney was a real person, urban tales certainly added to his legend and the questionable content of meat pies. Len Cariou played him in the original Broadway production with Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett. It won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. In any case, what's your feeling on such matters being possible?
Yes - as Mrs. Lovett says, "times is hard", who knows what folk might have done to make a living?
25%
451 votes
No - seems far-fetched to me, hard to cover up, etc.
28%
501 votes
N/A
47%
848 votes
4.
4.
The movie - as stated, Tim Burton adapted Sweeney to film in 2007 with Johnny Depp in the lead and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett. Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen co-star. What's there is quite good in my opinion, just wish various tunes featuring lovers Johanna and Anthony or Turpin were present, as well as the ballad. Here's a fan cut of the trailer featuring just music. (Warning: contains blood / violence). What do you think of Depp's singing?
Pretty good, he does have a musical background going back to his younger days.
27%
493 votes
Not really into him singing / just okay / stick to Capt. Sparrow, etc.
28%
508 votes
N/A
44%
799 votes
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