STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S SWEENEY TODD - Rick Pender

Back in 1980, as I was finishing my freshman year of college, I changed my college major to Theatre Arts. I note this because the biggest topic of discussion among my peers at this time was the very unusual, dark musical that had very recently opened on Broadway, called Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It is quite possible that the Original Cast album for the show was among my first Original Cast album purchases (I own well over 200 now). I mention this because Sweeny Todd (as it is generally referred to) holds a special place in my theatre-loving heart. And so this book held a great deal of interest to me.

The book is ... exhaustively comprehensive.

I definitely appreciated the history and background of the story and how Sondheim came to it and how he collaborated to make it happen. That Sondheim also gives credit to the person who wrote the play that prompted this musical is pretty impressive.

I'd read up on the history behind the story before,  but that was many years ago and I appreciated getting this history here - it felt very comprehensive. In fact everything about this book is comprehensive. And that's not necessarily a good thing.

There's more here than the average fan really wants. And MUCH more here than the average reader would find enjoyable. Seriously ... how many readers really want a deep dive into the different productions since the Broadway premiere? Even the various cast recordings is probably more comprehensive than most want. I have to admit I skimmed a lot of this, mostly because the names and dates, which meant almost nothing to me, felt like a prelude to a history test (which would never sit well with me).

And perhaps that's the biggest issue with this book - the almost clinical, dry, presentation of a very comprehensive amount of research on one very small subject. I know that there are a lot of people who are very intensely fans of Sondheim and his work and perhaps that group of people will absolutely love this book. I'm a fan of theatre and musical theatre (retired from working in the industry) and I greatly appreciate Sondheim and this particular musical, but this book goes well beyond my interest level.

Looking for a good book? The opening chapters of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: Behind the Bloody Musical Masterpiece by Rick Pender are a really interesting read. The rest of the book however, will appeal to only the most ardent fans who love every bit of knowledge no matter how minute (because it's probably here).

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

* * * * * *

Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: Behind the Bloody Musical Masterpiece

author: Rick Pender

publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

ISBN: 9781538196441

hardcover, 264 pages

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