Laughter during Sweeney Todd

Yes...I know that there are plenty of places that are very funny in "Sweeney Todd", however, I'm currently in a production of "Sweeney Todd" and we're experiencing something I find very strange. During the Act 2 Johanna Quartet, when Sweeney is "dispatching" his victims, we're getting audience laughter and even applause. Now, I can almost understand the first one, since this is the first time they've seen "the chair" in action. But I would think that at least the second one and certainly the Beadle's death (which occurs later) would not provoke laughter. Some members of the cast think it's because Sweeney is singing so sweetly and lovingly about his daughter while slitting people's throats....that it's just so out of place. But to me, that's thought provoking, not laugh inducing.

Let me just say, I don't think it's the quality of the production. This is show is actually much higher quality than most community theatre I've been involved with....and that just adds to my confusion.

So.....just wondered if anyone else has experienced this phenomena during Sweeney or maybe another show.

If you've ever done a show with a gun going off, you know the audience will laugh as a reaction to nerves. (Spoiler alert) I can't tell you how many times I've seen Chino run out and shoot Tony only to have the audience laugh at that moment. (End spoiler, but if you don't know how this show ends, you probably shouldn't be on this board. ha.)

I've seen Sweeney in 4 different productions and the more graphically violent the deaths, the more laughs they got. Sad but true.

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That spot is quite common for laughter - at least on Broadway with the original production and others I've seen. It's for the reason you mention. The scene is a complete contradiction. The score is so beautiful while such violent things are going on. Sondheim has a few of those moments in Sweeney Todd (which is why it's one of my favorites). Pretty Women works the same way and only "turns" when the confrontation at the end of the song builds to an intensity.

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Naw, you suck. LOL!

I'm pretty sure that there are many parts of that song that are meant to be funny. Also the scenes leading up to the beadles' death are pretty ludicrous and he's been established as a fairly comedic character. I can see why people would laugh. I don't know what's particularly thought provoking in the quartet though, unless you're thinking extensively about Sweeney and his decisions, I guess.

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Why don't you have the drummer do a rim shot?

"Naw, you suck. LOL! "


Who told you I was a bottom?

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Couldn't you just have Johanna beat Fogg to death with the gun?

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Well, what's been happening, is they try the gun (it worked 2 out of 3 times last weekend) and if it doesn't go off, then he says "there's no time!" and strangles him. If you don't know the show that well.....and I'm surprised how many of our audience members don't.....you really wouldn't know the difference.

I think part of my confusion about laughter at what i consider inappropriate places is that I saw the revival, and there was NO laughter at all during that section. However, if I remember correctly, Sweeney also wasn't killing anyone during that song in the revival.

There's no time to shoot him but enough time to strangle him? Funny...