Christopher Bond's: "SWEENEY TODD"
Christopher Bond's: "SWEENEY TODD"
Christopher Bond's: "SWEENEY TODD"#1
Posted: 4/21/10 at 5:25pm
Has anyone here ever seen/read the dramatic adaptation? How does it differ, exactly?
And what license company carries it? I know a few people considering doing a dramatic adaptation but satisfy an audience expecting the musical. I've looked EVERY WHERE but cannot cease to find it :c
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
Christopher Bond's: 'SWEENEY TODD'#2
Posted: 4/21/10 at 6:32pm
Christopher Bond wrote the play BEFORE Sondheim wrote the musical, hence, Sondheim's musical is the adaptation, not the other way around.
But no, I've never seen it.
-JG2
Christopher Bond's: 'SWEENEY TODD'#2
Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:11pm
Having just directed a production of Sweeney, and reading the Bond script beforehand, it's amazing how inspired Sondheim was by that version. There are differences in the story, but when you read it you'll be surprised at how much of it sounds familiar. Of course, Sondheim made it all his own - but, there are scenes in the Bond script where it reads like Sondheim just added music to them. Sondheim actually saw a production of the Bond version in London in the late 60's/early 70's, which inspired him to write the musical.
I believe the theatre order the Bond script off of Amazon. But not sure about that.
Christopher Bond's: 'SWEENEY TODD'#3
Posted: 4/21/10 at 7:40pm
otis, are there any major differences between the two?
~Steven
Christopher Bond's: 'SWEENEY TODD'#4
Posted: 4/21/10 at 9:00pmUsing "Adaptation" is correct for Bond's play, as they're both based on a much older source.
Christopher Bond's: 'SWEENEY TODD'#5
Posted: 4/21/10 at 9:34pmOtis, you make it sound like Sondheim wrote the entire musical himself.
Christopher Bond's: 'SWEENEY TODD'#6
Posted: 4/21/10 at 9:55pm
From what I've read, Christopher Bond is the one who made Sweeney Todd what he is, a tragic, anti-hero. In the original penny dreadfuls, Sweeney Todd was just a serial killer with no goal. Bond gave him that focus - to avenge his wife and kill the Judge.
So, yes, Bond created Sweeney Todd.
-JG2
Christopher Bond's: 'SWEENEY TODD'#7
Posted: 4/21/10 at 10:58pmSamuel French holds the rights for Bond's Sweeney Todd. He's listed as C.G. Bond.
Christopher Bond's: 'SWEENEY TODD'#8
Posted: 4/22/10 at 1:25am
Sorry - I did make it sound like Sondheim is solely responsible for the musical. My apologies to Mr. Wheeler. To be more specific, the lyrics were clearly inspired by the dialogue in the Bond script.
Fellow posters are correct - Bond was the first to give Sweeney a bit of a soul, and humanize him. Sondheim elaborated on certain characters and relationships, but other than that not many differences in story between the Bond version and the Sondheim/Wheeler musical.
Featured Actor Joined: 10/13/06
Videos
