Sweeney Todd Whistle

[James2]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 9:33am

Is it in the new production?

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 9:37am

and more importantly, who is playing it?

[Isabella2]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 10:14am

you mean during pretty women? I think either Sweeney is actually whistleing or johanna is playing it... not sure.

[RuprechtJr.]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 10:16am

I think they're talking about the Factory Whistle. I don't know, but I hope they do. I'll tell you in five months...:P

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:15am

In the original production, it wasn't a factory whistle. It was a loud policeman's whistle (from the appropriate period of the day). Tunick featured it prominently in his original orchestrations. It was meant to be surreally loud and unsettling.

I assume that's what they're asking here. Is the police whistle in the revival?

Updated On: 10/22/05 at 11:15 AM

[Chip1012]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:19am

Alex (The Beadle) has a whistle around his neck, he blows it.

[RuprechtJr.]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:23am

It may be a police whistle in the new one but the old production WAS a factory whistle. I have the score right infront of me and it says at the end of the Prolouge:

"The deafening shrill sound of a factory whistle blasts forth as the workmen pull down the drop. Blackout."

It also says before Pirelli's Miracle Elixer:

"The factory whistle blasts. Lights come up to reveal St. Dunstan's market place."

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:24am

Okay, my source for the comment was Jonathan Tunick himself. You can tell him he's wrong if you want to.

[RuprechtJr.]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:27am

Dear Mr. Tunick,

You are wrong and I'm right.

Best Wishes,
Ryan

Just kidding. Hope I didn't come off like a jerk to you. I just wanted to state that it really was a factory whistle.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:34am

Hey, you know, maybe he was talking really fast and said it wrong. It was several years after the production.

I know I misquote myself all the time.



Anyway, it sounded right at the time when he said it. The whistle is very high and shrill, like an old policeman's whistle. I wasn't around in the mid-1800s (contrary to popular belief) but I would guess that a factory whistle would sound more robust. Pure speculation on my part.

Updated On: 10/22/05 at 11:34 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:58am

**SPOILER ALERT!!!**
They do play it now, but they play it after every character is killed off instead of at the opening and in between a few scene changes.
It's played at the death of:
The Beggar Woman
The Beadle
Pirelli
Mrs. Lovett
Judge Turpin
but not at the death of Sweeney which is symbolic and really and trully bone-chillingly haunting. When he dies, he lets out a long, hard breath and slowly falls backward. It's very, very creepy.
**END SPOILER**

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 12:03pm

gee,now i won't have to go see it.


j/k

[Shortman4ever390]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 12:08pm

no one blows a whistle in the new production.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 1:14pm

^Then does the whistle blow itself?

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 1:16pm

That sounds pornographic.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 1:18pm

And very difficult.

[neocomposer]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 2:36pm

I could have swore I saw someone blowing a whistle, and I thought it was Beadle. The only time I saw him with one was when he was being killed...so he could have been doing it the whole time and I didn't know it.

Either way, that whistle is DEAFENING!! I loved the show, but I thought I was going to lose my hearing. And I was in the cheap seats!


EDIT: of course I didn't read every post...sorry

Updated On: 10/22/05 at 02:36 PM

[jsand25]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 10:31pm

YES there is a very high pitch whistle that the beadle plays. I saw the show last week. Its fantastic. sweeney is scary, patti is funny and pathetic in the role of lovett, and the supporting cast is amazingly talented singing and playing instruments. GO SEE IT. CERVERIS will WIN THE TONY! Guaranteed!