A Thought About Sweeney (Spoilers)

[James2]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:27pm

I thought of some more symbolism in the revival. In Act Two, the pouring of the blood from one bucket to another symbolizes a body falling from Sweeney's shop to the basement (that is, for all deaths except Fogg's and Mrs. Lovett's). I don't know if someone else posted this, but it's something I wanted to share.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:34pm

i never thought of it that way
i was too busy staring at Patti's facial expression and her lips...
:P
interesting observation, though...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 2:22pm

It has nothing to do with bodies falling.

Pouring blood into buckets has been used simply to symbolize killing on stage for years in many previous productions by many previous directors. It's a particular favorite at the Watermill Theatre (UK) where Doyle has worked for years. He and fellow director Edward Hall have incorporated into various productions through the years. I saw Hall use it two seasons ago in his ROSE RAGE which was a reduction of Shakespeare's HENRY VI plays into a single evening event which played here at The Duke on 42nd Street after having had acclaimed runs at the Watermill and the West End.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 2:47pm

Also they didn't want the VERY expensive instruments to get soiled! Same reason for the smocks already covered in blood instead of the razor squirt gun used in the original.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 2:49pm

Margo's right, of course. In the context of Sweeney Todd, blood is poured whenever a character dies (with one exception), regardless of whether or not they "fall down" It's nothing more than a stylistic way to represent death.

Updated On: 8/19/06 at 02:49 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:03pm

What do you suppose happened to Mr. Lovett?

[TomMonster]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:14pm

Hard to be a Mrs. without the Mr!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:16pm

yeah, i think she had a husband, but he passed away
it couldnt have been Sweeney though because he was off in Australia...
:P

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:25pm

There's only one line referencing Mrs Lovett's husband:

Mrs Lovett: You know, it's seventeen years this Whitsun since my poor Albert passed on. I don't see why I shouldnt be married in white, do you?

As to what happened to him, it's not specified, and probably irrelevant.

[Ready 2 Defy Gravity]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:42pm

Okay how does Mrs Lovett die in the revival?

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:44pm

**SPOILER**

Sweeney sits her on the chair, and slashes her repeatedly with his razor.

[Ready 2 Defy Gravity]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:46pm

ahhh thanks, still confused about it, could you personal message me with some more details please?

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:57pm

I'd also like more details on Mrs. Lovett's death. Please PM me as well.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 4:05pm

PMs sent :)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 4:32pm

I KNOW its irrelevant, thats why its fun to speculate about it!

[roseaddams]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 9:04pm

If you could also PM me about Mrs. Lovett's death, I'd appreciate it.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 8/19/06 at 9:07pm

Was it just me, or did it seem that with each killing there was more blood to be poured in the bucket? Almost as if adding up the horrors of his crime and how much further he was going......