Neil Simon's Sweeney Todd!

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:44pm

The following is scanned from the monthly newsletter for my town in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I can't wait to see Neil Simon's Sweeney Todd. Should be a fresh vision!

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:53pm

When's it going to Broadway?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 6:03pm

"Mrs. Lovett! I don't like the pantyhose hanging on the rod!"

[heathurrr]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 6:15pm

Yikes.

[clever name]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 7:33pm

C'mon, Barker, let's go down to the deli and get blind, stinkin' drunk.. we gotta think of a plan..

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 8:54pm

This was always my favorite Simon play! Here's a quick sample of a scene:

LOVETT: You look like hell. Where have you been?
SWEENEY: I was detained a little bit. A funny thing happened on the way to Australia.
LOVETT: Don't they have stamps Down Under? Not so much as a ten-word postcard, you know. Lucy was sick over it. Sick to death.
SWEENEY: You don't mean...
LOVETT: I do. She poisoned herself.
SWEENEY: Why?
LOVETT: Nobody else would do it for her---How the hell would I know? So, what are you going to do now?
SWEENEY: I'm a barber. I'll cut hair.
LOVETT: You can start with your own. And a shower wouldn't hurt, while you're in the neighborhood.
SWEENEY: I'll make you a deal. I'll bathe if you stop making these dreadful pies. A person could die from such cuisine.
LOVETT: So, I'm not five-star. Sue me. I'm a woman of a certain age, now. I do the best I can.

They just don't write 'em like they used to.

Posted: 8/24/08 at 8:56pm

Best you have a career in writing for community theater!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 8:59pm

LOL. Don't I just?

Posted: 8/24/08 at 9:04pm

The only thing missing is what a friend used to call "auto Director" indications:

LOVETT: You look like hell. (pause) Where have you been?
SWEENEY: I was detained a little bit. (steps to right) A funny thing happened on the way to Australia.
LOVETT: Don't they have stamps Down Under? Not so much as a ten-word postcard, you know. Lucy was sick over it. Sick to death. (turns away slowly)
SWEENEY: You don't mean... (Pause. Cover mouth)
LOVETT: I do. She poisoned herself. (Pantomies drinking poison)
SWEENEY: Why? (strinken)

etc etc etc

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 10:53pm

You should have seen it with the original cast. Truly inspiring!

Sweeney - Peter Falk
Mrs. Lovett - Marsha Mason
Judge Turpin - Walter Matthau
Beadle - James Coco
Pirelli - Herb Edelman
Beggar Woman - Maureen Stapleton
Tobias - Matthew Broderick
Joanna - Kristy McNichol
Anthony - Scott Baio

Updated On: 8/25/08 at 10:53 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 10:57pm

Besty, that's beyond brilliant. You need an agent. STAT!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 11:02pm

Besty, you had me laughing for a good five minutes!

LOVETT: You can start with your own. And a shower wouldn't hurt, while you're in the neighborhood.
SWEENEY: I'll make you a deal. I'll bathe if you stop making these dreadful pies. A person could die from such cuisine.
LOVETT: So, I'm not five-star. Sue me. I'm a woman of a certain age, now. I do the best I can.

Perfection!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 11:04pm

You're much too kind, ray! I'm glad you laughed!


And PJ, from your mouth to God's ears.