The parental guidelines to Sweeney Todd

[icarus]

I'm writing the parental guidelines to the the musical Sweeney Todd. I've only a paragraph or two to describe the possible offensive content.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The story revolves around a murderer whose wife was raped and who cooks his victims in pies.

Comments

[cyanei.livejournal.com]

Heeeeeeeee. Oh, where to start?

[spiderine.livejournal.com]

The story revolves around a murderer whose wife was raped and who cooks his victims in pies.

Well, what do you need 2 paragraphs for when that sounds like you've summed it up nicely in that one sentence? Although it's not the murderer (I would say "barber") who cooks the victims, it's his lover (should be accurate, you know). *bats eyelashes innocently*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

LOL

I tell you, this is particularly absurd after writing the guidelines to the The King And I. Er. Um. Yes. The king threatens to beat a slave and, um, oh yes -- all of Thailand hates this show.

But compared to on-stage murders and that infamous barber chair... *coughs*

Though truly, the cat-pies and the blinded birds disturb me much more. Not to mention the dental scene (hands clutch at desk).

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I could ennumerate the murders. Or perhaps, warn people of various methods, so they can be sure to avoid ones that aren't their preference. Razors -- well, okay. But strangulation? No thanks, darling.

Icarus

[fiatincantatum.livejournal.com]

if it were a fanfic summarywarning, how would it go?

[spyofsorrow.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I read the story about him. Sweeney Todd, the demon barber. He's such a cool character. Too bad he's fictional. ^.^

[cara-chapel.livejournal.com]

If I were warning people for contents with a minimum of spoilers, I'd say "Extreme, graphic, widely varied, and highly creative violence. Graphic sexual references. Includes also a variety of perverse and disturbing acts not typically encountered in the human sphere. This play is well-suited for Hannibal Lechter and Jeffrey Dahmer, but not necessarily for the rest of the human race."

;-)

[blackletter]

Sweeney Todd! That's one of my favourite musicals!

Erm...I wonder if that says something wrong about me.

[bridebrooke.livejournal.com]

That would be a fun challenge. A wonderful musical that is highly entertaining while being very twisted at the same time. It is rather scary how entertaining it is because you sit there going how delightful it is when you know you should be rather disturbed by it.

I have always taken great pleasure in the fact that Angela Lansbury was in this musical. How could you refuse a meat pie from her?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Favorite musical ever. Completely spoiled me for all other musical theatre. I keep saying, "I can't watch musicals unless there are at least 3 murders and an on-stage rape scene."

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*splutters!* That's it! We now know for posterity's sake the theatrical and literary sources for all your non-con fic. *laughs*

Icarus

[goseaward.livejournal.com]

Ahem.

*g*

As it turns out, a barber in London in the...sixteenth century?...actually did kill people and have them baked into pies. But that's about all the detail we have on him.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yes, he's for real. The story was based on an actual news account. Apparently he did it for money instead of revenge.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I don't think I can avoid spoilers. Even with innocuous shows like The King And I the theatre gets bombarded with angry calls. If anyone is surprised by the dark content in Sweeney Todd ... *Icarus shakes and does the "Lurch" moan* ... I can't even imagine.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'm somehow not surprised you have a sick sense of humour. I can't imagine why. :)

I'm going to try to score some tickets to this. :D

Icarus

[harveywallbang.livejournal.com]

he cooks them in pies!?! excellent! you ever seen/read titus andronicus? *sigh* i love that part at the end when she realizes she's eating her sons.... bahahahahahaha...
i really wanna see sweeney todd...wahhhh...

i'll be writing those parental guidelines are a delight :D

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I've definitely seen "Titus" though I haven't read it. I think you would like Sweeney Todd. It's just such... gleefully sick humour.

I've laughed myself silly over these guidelines. :D

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more. And what a wonderful discription of the musical -- can I use it for our website? ;)

Icarus

[spyofsorrow.livejournal.com]

No way. The article I read stated that this guy was fictional. People believed he was real, because it was written in the news. The news contained a lot of fictional stories called "Penny Murders". People loved to read them.

[bridebrooke.livejournal.com]

Sure go ahead. Just give me the link to the page it is on. Maybe I can print it out to place next to my beloved poster for the off broadway production I saw that is signed by the cast. I laugh at all of the silly people who thought it was stupid to buy since I appreciate it more every year. It is fun looking up the names to see what else the actors have done since.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

It was long believed that he was fictional, invented by the writers of "Penny Dreadfuls" (also called "Penny Bloods" and "Penny Murders") - little 8-page newspapers that contained only fiction that were mostly read by teens.

The original story versions (one of the earliest was called "String Of Pearls") claimed it was "based on fact!" though the Penny Dreadfuls had such a low reputation people didn't actually believe it. A researcher dug into the origins of Sweeney Todd and discovered the writer had snagged his idea from a real news account. There is little resemblance between Sweeney and the original barber however.

Icarus

[miladyhawke.livejournal.com]

Omg... *lol*

I'm laughing because I'm remembering the Kevin Smith movie "Jersey Girl," and the little girl in that is fixated on going to see Sweeney Todd.