Gore And Violence In Thomas Peckett Priest's The Penny Dreadful

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The stench from the chimney at night was something most foul, and people—those who surely would not to be missed—began disappearing into the dark without a trace. In 1846, the story of a barber who gruesomely murdered his customers was released in the popular British fiction publication, The Penny Dreadful, by Thomas Peckett Priest, author of many grim Penny Dreadful stories. Penny Dreadfuls were often written casually, and contained themes of gore and violence; The String of Pearls was no different. Its style of writing makes it a perfect example of a sensational, violent subject matter that plays off of the deepest fears of the human race. The success of the stories lies in the wild reaction people give it. Themes like murder and cannibalism equally scare and attract people, leading to the success of the stories. …show more content…

Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou played the lively and oddly lovable duo of murderers who brought the production to life with theatrical voices, captivating artistic energy, and impeccable stage presence. The play is often noted for its rapid patter songs with awkward musical intervals, and its odd, yet appropriate mixture of comedy and tragedy. Captivated by the darkness of the production, Tim Burton directed his own rendition in 2007, starring Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett; both appropriately eccentric actors for such eccentric characters. The film version was limited by the confines of the screen, but used special effects of the film industry to its advantage, giving Victorian London a Burton makeover, making it more fitting to the morbid nature of the

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