Lets get one thing out of the way really quickly yes, Johnny Depps Sweeney Todd sounds exactly like Jack Sparrow. Now that it has been said, please take a moment to let go of whatever opinions you have regarding the Tim Burton film whether or not you enjoy his adaptation should not distract from what is one of the most bloodthirsty and strangely beloved Broadway Musicals in history. Composed by the creator of Assassins the secretly disturbed Stephen Sondheim this musical follows former barber and family man Sweeney Todd who, after losing his family and being banished by the villainous Judge Turpin, returns to London to exact his revenge. Assisted by the smitten and possibly unstable pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett, Todd slowly descends into insanity and begins to brutally murder anybody who is unfortunate enough to cross his path. Straight away establishing the setting as one of loose morals and violent crime Theres a hole in the world like a great black pit, and the vermin of the world inhabit it, and its morals arent worth what a pig could spit, and it goes by the name of London Sweeney Todd outperforms every other musical in this article when it comes to the gory details. Where most musicals would have their characters wielding guns or swords, Todd takes the lives of his victims through the use of a straight razor. Not satisfied with just gruesome murder, the corpses are then retrieved by Mrs. Lovett who uses their flesh in pies, feeding them to the unsuspecting public. This tale of cannibalism and sliced throats has exposed the twisted personality of audiences all over the world, pulling in an astonishing 9 Olivier Awards, 10 Tony Awards and 13 Drama Desk Awards over the course of its 35 year existence not to mention the films Academy Award and two Golden Globes.
A writer, actor, teacher and musician from New South Wales, Australia. His first play/musical "Hipster Apocalypse: A Zombie Cabaret" will be hitting the stage in Wollongong, Australia later this year. If you have any questions or just want to chat, you can contact Bradley on Facebook, Twitter and Google+
