Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared in a Victorian penny dreadful serial called “The String of Pearls” in 1846-47. He is a barber who murders his customers and then disposes of their bodies with the help of his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, who uses the flesh to make meat pies.
The story of Sweeney Todd has been adapted and retold numerous times over the years, including in plays, films, and musicals. One of the most famous adaptations is Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” which won multiple Tony Awards and was later adapted into a film by Tim Burton in 2007.
Sweeney Todd has become a popular cultural icon and is often associated with the darker side of Victorian London. The character has also been used as a symbol of social injustice and economic inequality, as he preys on his customers who are often poor and vulnerable.
Sweeney Todd: behind the blockbuster take on Sondheim’s Broadway hit https://t.co/OUFjHRCCTg
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 24, 2023
Leave a Reply