We have officially hit the single digits re: Dragon*Con. And yes, you read the above title correctly. I will not have just a (singular) costume but instead several (plural) costumes (plural). Two, to be exact.
So, no surprise y’all, I love Stephen Sondheim with all my heart. And while Tim Burton doesn’t inspire in me the same maniacal fervor, I was still pretty stoked when Tim Burton decided to make a movie of my favorite Stephen Sondheim musical. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is absolutely Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece and I remember that it exploded my mind my sophomore year of undergrad, when I listened to it obsessively.
That is the opening number from the original Broadway production, was back in 1979. The original cast had Len Cariou as the title role and the amazing Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett (and Victor Garber at Anthony! Crazy!) By the time PBS decided to film and broadcast the production, however, Len Cariou had been switched out for George Hearn–who I personally think is better, because Len Cariou is more of a classic silky baritone whereas George Hearn really infuses the role with smoldering fury. Anyhow, like I said, this is the opening number, and if you are only familiar with the Tim Burton movie you will not recognize this number because TIM BURTON CUT OUT ALL INSTANCES OF THE VOCALIZED VERSION OF “THE BALLAD OF SWEENEY TODD” WTF TIM BURTON HOW DARE YOU.
I mean, otherwise, the movie was fine. Better than fine, I was really pleasantly surprised, and even the comical amount of gore and blood spatter didn’t shock me. I thought the cast was uniformly well chosen, even if Helena Bonham-Carter had the wrong voice for the role of Mrs. Lovett. Which leads me to the purpose of this post:
Yes I am doing a Mrs. Lovett Costume and yes it is the Helena Bonham-Carter version not the Angela Lansbury (or Patti Lupone) version. Yes I bought a big Victorian skirt and a weird blouse off of Etsy and I am pairing it with some stuff from my own closet as well as a rolling pin that I need to make look blood-stained. I feel that it will be awesome.
So yeah, that will happen. I’m fairly excited. Check in later this week to learn more about THE SECOND COSTUME. 9 days 9 days 9 days…
The Dilettantista 
I am going as Mrs. Lovett and i would love to have a rolling pin that appears to be covered in blood. Do you have any tips on how to do this. Or on how to do my hair.
Hi Kat! Thanks for reading and thanks for your comment. I basically just took red paint (any sort) and applied red hand prints to it. The paint dries but it looks all red and ooky like blood. Another option would be staining parts of it, maybe with tomato sauce? It’d have to be an unfinished wood.
I have short-ish hair and didn’t wear a wig with my costume, and so I basically put it into a really messy updo. You could always do the old-school Angel Lansbury look, which is sort of fun and kooky, (http://www.culturevulture.net/Theater/SweeneyTodd.htm). My suggestion is really just a super duper messy updo, lots of teasing and loose pieces and hairspray!
I hope that this helps with your Halloween costume, I bet it will be awesome!