Sweeney Todd Muhahahahahaha!!!!!

Lesson Objectives By the end of the lesson, pupils will have: Devised their own version of the famous melodrama ‘Sweeney Todd’ Incorporated the use of ‘aside’, melodramatic body language and appropriate language Watched and evaluated their work

Asides What is an aside and why is it used in drama? An aside is a comment made by a character on the stage that the other characters cannot hear. It usually reveals what the character is really thinking, a bit like a thought track

Let’s practise! Landlord (to mother): Today is rent day, where is my money? (Aside): I know she can’t afford to pay so I’ll take her daughter instead! Mother (to Landlord): Goodness me, that time again? I’ll just go and get it for you. (Aside): Whatever will I do? We have no money to pay!

Hero (to innocent): I have saved you fair maiden. You do not have to thank me. Knowing you are safe is enough. (Aside): I wouldn’t mind a kiss though! Innocent (to hero): However will I repay you? Thank you a thousand times! (Aside): He is so handsome I think I’m falling in love!

Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is an evil barber who kills people for money if he thinks no-one will really miss them. His shop in London is next door to Mrs Lovett’s famous pie shop. He has an arrangement to provide her with free meat – the bodies of his victims. She minces them up and uses them in her pies!

Scene 1 A young sailor called Jack arrives in London, after many years at sea, to marry his fiancée, Emily. Jack has saved every penny he has earned so that he can finally marry her. They have agreed to meet in Fleet Street and Jack has arrived early. He catches sight of himself in a window and realises he needs to smarten up. He spots Sweeney Todd’s barber shop, goes in, hangs up his hat and asks Sweeney for a shave and hair cut. Sweeney finds out that Jack has been away at sea for years and has saved a lot of money. Sweeney cuts Jack’s throat with the razor and pushes a lever which dumps Jacks body in the cellar; he is not dead however just seriously hurt. Q: What stock characters are Sweeny Todd and Mrs Lovett? Focus: You must use at least one aside during this scene

Scene 2 Emily arrives with a friend of Jack’s, called Bob, and wonders why he is so late. They decide to ask some of the local shopkeepers if they have seen a sailor. Emily goes into the barbers shop, but Sweeney claims there have been no customers all day. As she goes she notices a sailor’s hat hanging up with the name of Jack’s ship on the hat band. She decides to ask Bob about it. She goes outside to find him coming out of the pie shop, a pie in hand. As she tells him about the hat he munches on the pie until he suddenly stops. He inserts a finger into his mouth and pulls something out. It looks suspiciously like a human toenail! They decide to return to Sweeney’s shop later to investigate… FOCUS: Appropriate language

Scene 3 Now you must finish the story remembering that in Melodrama good always triumphs over evil! Do not forget that Jack is not dead just seriously wounded. FOCUS: MELODRAMATIC BODY LANGUAGE Jack Emily Sweeney Todd Bob

And finally… What is an aside and why do we use it? What melodrama conventions have you used successfully today? As a group pupils should decide on a star performer and justify their reasons for the choice.