"Broadway's new Sweeney Todd will wield a guitar while Mrs. Lovett totes a tuba, Tobias strings a violin and Johanna handles the cello and penny whistle in the upcoming revival of SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET.
The instrument assignment is as follows: The Beadle - keyboard/trumpet, Beggar Woman - clarinet, Anthony - cello/ keyboard, Johanna - cello/penny whistle, Jonas Fogg - bass, Tobias - violin/clarinet/keyboard, Pirelli - accordion/keyboard/flute, Judge Turpin - trumpet/orchestra bells/ percussion, Mrs. Lovett- tuba/orchestra bells/ percussion and Sweeney Todd - guitar/orchestra bells/percussion."
I am so confused as to how this is going to work. I mean really, they can't sing and play their instrument at the same time. I am a little (okay, a lot) skeptical about this....Am i just not understanding something here?
Bernadette, not everyone is on stage at the same time. And many instruments can be played while singing- the keyboard, cello, percussion instruments, bass and guitar all qualify. Obviously woodwinds, brass, violins and violas are out. :)
Well that makes since. But is it basically going to be a concert version with them singing and playing the instruments. Or is going to be a fully staged production. Sorry for being naive, just trying to understand!
No Bernadette, its a fully staged production, albeit a very avant garde, presentational, non realistic production. There are several threads that talk about how the show was staged in London if you search.
It's very theatrical, and I thought, in the UK at least, pretty thrilling theatre.
I am kind of hoping that the Beadle has one of those straps on his keyboard, so that he can put it around his neck and take it everywhere with him. That'd be sweet.
Pirelli had an accordian and accompianed her/himself during his numbers. Lovett played a trumpet in London, and was able to sing "Poor Thing" and then grab her trumpet for a quick solo during the "rape" section. It's all very fascinating how the musician/actor thing works -- but it did, indeed, work in the West End. Sometimes actually adding brilliant insight to Sondheim's musicalizing of the characters. Updated On: 9/20/05 at 09:03 PM
I would think it would be an unbelivably difficult production to understudy/swing. Come to think of it, I don't believe they have announced any understudies as of yet....
Honestly, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna enjoy this production no matter what. But, I have to admit that I have my doubts about this production. I mean, Sweeney Todd's giant orchestrations are so full and rich. It's one of my favorite things about the show. I'm just so curious to see how everything is gonna turn out.
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Since I've spent a lot of this semester so far reading Brecht, this revival's artistic aims are becoming slightly clearer to me. But my music major ears will still probably react badly to the lack of a full orchestra.
We'll see. I'm going on October 15.
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Sweeney Todd staged in small theatres with a reduced orchestration is NOTHING new....
From the Broadway revival at Circle in the Square to the mounting at the RNT in London, the show has been done very succesfully in very intimate settings with tiny orchestras.
It's actually said to be Sondheim's preference for the material. He was not a particular fan of Prince's original staging, at least it was never what he invisioned for the material.