Downsizing Sweeney

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 9:30pm

My pet project of mounting SWEENEY is getting off the ground, happily enough. In regards to 'making use of my venue' and 'keeping true to the score' -- If I had to downsize the orchestrations (due to budget problems), which instruments could I possibly 'cut' without ruining the entire show?

BASS

CELLO

HORN

PIANO

PERCUSSION

REED 1

REED 2

TRUMPET

VIOLIN

Any and all insight appreciated.

Best,
- Mike

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 9:32pm

umm, I'd say get rid of bass, but if you do that you HAVE to keep cello, I find it more versatile :) and def. keep violin

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 9:35pm

maybe a reed?

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 9:44pm

but whatever you do get rid of make sure you have piano! its crucial, and usually piano has keys for other instruments but yeah, piano is def the most crucial

[binau]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 9:46pm

If you happen to have the 05 cast recording read the information by the orchestrator and it might give you some inspiration of what instruments to keep/go.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 10:08pm

You need an accordion and a tuba!

[sabrelady]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 10:17pm

And a Triangle!

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 10:25pm

I believe that MTI offers downsized orchestrations.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 10:39pm

Attend the tale of Teeny Todd
The cast is small and the staging odd.
Although the musical's barely ten
Somebody decided to do it again.
For intrigue brought a promenade
It's Teeny Todd
The smaller version of Sweeney!
There is no shop in London town.
Except two flats that are painted brown.
But think of all of the cash they'll save
The physical budget impeccably shaved
It's Teeny It's Teeny Todd
The smaller version of Sweeney.
Swing your razor low, teeny
Keep it under-sized.
And what's more
The Sondheim score Is synthesized!
Our needs are few the stage is bare
We use a miniature barber chair
The mug of suds and the leather strop
Are tiny toy props from a tiny toy shop
For cheapness we deserve a nod
It's Teeny Todd
The smaller version of Sweeney.
Big and epic-like Sweeney was
Huge and bulky the scenery was
Twenty ton bridge
Twenty ton barge
Hal prince's version was ugly but large.
Now the bigger guy Sweeney's gone
And his kid brother Teeny's on
Teeny is smooth
Even more subtle
When teeny blinks the roaches scuttle.
Teeny!
Attend the tale of Teeny Todd
Tho' Stephen Sondheim's a demigod
To bring back one of his shows today
No-one can afford the original way
They shrink it
Like Teeny Like Teeny Todd
The Sweeney version that's Tee-ny.
Ahahahaha!

[Parks]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 10:42pm

That. Is. Awesome.

What is that from?!

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 10:44pm

Forbidden Broadway, Vol. 2

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 10:45pm

Forbidden Broadway.

[binau]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 11:09pm

Are the lyrics accurate? I am always intrigued by that revival - are there any photos of the set?

[Elphie3]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 11:18pm

It's a plain black set.

Yes, I believe those are the correct lyrics.

[binau]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 11:23pm

When I mean accurate I mean is that really what the production was like :P. But you answered that anyway "Plain black set" - wow.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 11:36pm

that's not ENTIRELY true. the set looked something like this

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 11:39pm

Wait, is that song talking about the Doyle revival? It says "although the show is barely ten, somebody decided to do it again." In 2005, the show was WAY more than ten years old. "Teeny Todd" is listed as being in Volume 2 of Forbidden Broadway, in 1991.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 11:40pm

Well, if you need a tobias or the other male lover, just let me know.

and I'd vote trumpet, but that's purely for superficial reasons. I think Sweeney has a dark vibe, and the strings just enhance that to me. Brass just seems to cheesy.

[binau]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 11:40pm

Teeny Todd is definitely not the Doyle Revival, it talks about synthesisers etc. and of course it was recorded in 1991. It's the 89 revival with Bob Gunton. I'm looking for photos of that production if they are around :P.

Updated On: 1/20/09 at 11:40 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 11:54pm

Not surprising to confuse the two. The Teeny Todd lyrics could have very easily been talking about the Doyle revival save for a few lines.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 12:20am

I think in our production we had.

2 keyboards.
1 bass
1 guitar
precussion

[binau]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 12:28am

That would be interesting to see. When you say keyboards what was each role? (And did you used synthesised settings?). What was the response to the production like?

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 12:29am

...and it worked well?

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 12:32am

gypsy, would you mind shedding some light?

That sounds pretty gosh-darn perfect for what I'm trying to do. I want to bring a fresh approach to the material, breathe some life into a would-be bloated corpse of Victorian England. Any insight appreciated. I've already trimmed down a cast of 27-30 (traditional staging) to 16-18 performers (including the 9 mainstays). I'd LOVE your insight either through this thread or PM, whichever you prefer.

Many thanks!

[gypsy4]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 12:54am

heres an article from are production there is allso a video clip you can hear the orchestra you can't see them because they are in the wings. by the way I wasn't in it but it is my local theatre where I perform. but it was a great production but the keyboards played reeds and strings there were no brass intruments.


sweeney todd. Updated On: 1/21/09 at 12:54 AM