Profession… meat pie shop proprietor and landlord. Mrs. Lovett's pie shop, according to her, serves the "worst pies in London." Predictably, that’s not exactly helping business boom. At least, that’s the case until she discovers a rather macabre solution. The story of this vengeful barber and his pie-baking partner has been around in varied incarnations since 1846, when the bloody tale of Sweeney Todd became a standard subject for Victorian melodramas. Now that spooky times are coming, take a look at this bloody and gothic piece of art, that is always a treat to watch due to the talented crew that made it possible. Hopefully, you will end up being mad and delighted about the flawless production that it is. Enhance the sinister vibe of your costume by applying realistic fake blood to create a chilling effect. I remember being so excited by this sequence when I first saw the film because “By the Sea” is one of my favorite songs from the musical. After the runaway success of her new and improved pie shop, Mrs. Lovett excitedly tells a distracted Sweeney about her plans for a future together. The garishly colorful scenes are a fun break from all the dark and gory depictions of London, and the bold costumes prove that all Tim Burton movies require that someone at some point be wearing a ridiculous amount of stripes.

While in most versions of the Sweeney Todd story Mrs. Lovett's past history is not stated, usually she is depicted as a childless widow, although in some rare depictions, Mr. Albert Lovett is shown. In Christopher Bond's 1973 play Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Stephen Sondheim's 1979 musical adaptation, before she goes into business with Todd she is living in poverty in a filthy, vermin-infested flat, and laments that her pies are the worst in London. While she feels no remorse about using the bodies of Todd's victims in her pies, she is sometimes shown to have a softer side to those in need. In the Bond play and Sondheim musical, she takes in the young orphan Tobias Ragg and considers taking in Todd's daughter Johanna, as well. In the original "penny dreadful" serial and George Dibdin Pitt's 1847 stage play, The String of Pearls; or, The Fiend of Fleet Street, however, this soft side does not extend to her "assistants", whom she imprisons in the bakehouse and often works to death. Emma Thompson performed as Mrs. Lovett in the 2014 New York Philharmonic semi-staged concert version. This adaptation was recorded for PBS Great Performances series, resulting in Thompson earning an Emmy nomination for Best Leading Actress in a movie. Johanna, played by Jayne Wisener, is the daughter of Benjamin and Lucy Barker. After her mother poisoned herself, she was adopted by Judge Turpin, who has now turned his lecherous eye towards his beautiful young ward. However, Johanna falls in love with the young sailor Anthony, played by Jamie Campbell Bower (Jace Wayland!), who swears to steal her away so they can be together. It must be noted, though, that “Johanna” is one of the creepiest, most stalker-ish songs ever.Find sources: "Mrs. Lovett"– news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( May 2023) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Felicity Palmer performed as Lovett in the 2003 production at the Royal Opera House, its only musical produced. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is yet another example of the timelessness of the Sweeney Todd story. The beautiful music, acting performances, set, lighting, costume, and more make for an unforgettable viewer experience. Stephen Sondheim yet again showcases his mastery as a director, and prolific lead actors Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury do not disappoint. Viewers are blown away by their performances, and those of the supporting cast, in their gripping emotion and beautiful songs. This play is not only a must-see for thriller aficionados, but for anybody interested in the epitome of the elegant musical. He (Tim Burton) is a director that appreciates the texture and nuances of costume. That’s a real treat for a costume designer to work with”– Colleen AtwoodMrs. Lovett is a fictional character appearing in many adaptations of the story Sweeney Todd. Her first name is most commonly referred to as Nellie, although she has also been referred to as Amelia, Margery, Maggie, Sarah, Shirley, Wilhelmina, Mary and Claudetta. [1] A baker from London, Mrs. Lovett is an accomplice and business partner of Sweeney Todd, a barber and serial killer from Fleet Street. She makes meat pies from Todd’s victims.