Sweeney Todd is by no implies a standard musical it takes various forms of music and theater and artfully areas them collectively. Sondheim really correctly transports the audience back to Victorian England for a mad waltz with murder, mayhem…and meat pies. He also utilizes his skill as a choral composer to write some really fascinating ensemble pieces accompanied by a extremely intricate plot with several elements cautiously layered.
There are many important thematic components in this carefully written commentary on our society, and Sondheim makes excellent use of his music to accent not only the melodramatic plot, but these themes as well. For instance, the song “Kiss Me” becomes an anthem for Anthony and Johanna and a symbol of their correct adore….they loved when they did not even know every single other’s names. Sweeney Todd might be a dark musical, but its building lends nicely to light voices and an equally light orchestral style. Plot-smart, this show is rather light, the characters appear cartoonish and one-dimensional, particularly Mrs. Lovett, Anthony, and Johanna, who seem to be little more than melodramatic character roles. Ironically, Mrs. Lovett, the absolute capitalist, is 1 of the show’s most complex characters. Mrs. Lovett is not merely some amoral witch out to make a rapidly dollar, she is a character driven by greed and enjoy to preserve Sweeney even so she can.
In conclusion, the play provides an excellent instance of captive innocence, and the loss of innocence that quickly follows. Sweeney is driven to murder, Mrs. Lovett bakes these people into pies, Johanna kills, Lucy is forced to develop into a Beggar and a whore, and practically just about every key character experiences their personal fall from grace. Each character in the show is a captive, no matter if literally or figuratively. Most importantly, Sweeney is a captive of his revenge and Mrs. Lovett is imprisoned by her like for Sweeney. Both are determined to do what ever feasible to attain their targets and both fail, eventually destroying themselves just brief of reaching their goals.