Patti LuPone learning tuba for Sweeney Todd

[rawleygirl]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 12:37am

or maybe she just has gas.

[MatthewAddison]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 12:49am

And I bet her farts sound like beautiful melodies...and smell like only the finest of fine perfumes.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:51am

Seriously, is this true? Are they teaching her tuba just for the show?

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:56am

Why do i have a hard time picturing Patti LuPone playing the tuba?

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:01am

Tuba is like the easiest thing to play because you really only use four notes

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 7:47am

She's learning the trumpet, not the tuba.

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:30am

I'm sure that I have missed reading about this in one thousand places on the board but why do Mrs. Lovett and other such characters play instruments?
How does this work with the story?
AND - the cast of Music Man and Cabaret played instruments in recent revivals, why for Sweeney?

Updated On: 8/27/05 at 09:30 AM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:51am

theres no orchestra, so the ensemble cast of 10 plays them.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:54am

There are SO many threads on this subject, that go into incredible detail about how the instruments are used and why.

And I believe that like her London counterpart, LuPone will indeed be playing a trumpet. A tuba is not exactly an instrument that is easy to pick up and put down quickly in the flow of the action of the story.

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 9:59am

Thanks.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:30am

Here's the breakdown of who's playing what.

And Yes...folks, she's playing the TUBA.

The cast/instrument breakdown is as follow:
Beadle - piano/trumpet
Beggar Woman - clarinet
Anthony - cello
Johanna - cello/tin whistle
Jonas Fogg - double bass
Tobias - violin/clarinet/piano
Pirelli - piano/accordian/flute
Judge Turpin - trumpet/percussion/glockenspiel
Mrs. Lovett- percussion/glockenspiel/tuba
Sweeney Todd - guitar/percussion

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:34am

Thanks JustAGuy.
It was generous of you to give the info and I appreciate it. :)


I'm sure that as with other similar London transfers this production must be amazing. Still can't imagine Patti playing those instruments much. :)

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:42am

It's information that can be found in the article about the casting of SWEENY TODD on the homepage of BWW. So you should thank the powers-that-be for posting that article. Not me!

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:46am

Well thanks for being kind.
The powers know I am thankful already.

[ilovedrsandNLB]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 11:01am

HEY WOAH with saying tuba is the easiest thing ever! lol i play tuba. and sure, its easy...but hey, don't diss us! lol

[kjklo]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:10pm

There was an article which said that LuPone played the tuba in her high school marching band, so apparently she has some previous experience with the instrument.

[lovinlovett]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 2:58pm

Okay, can anyone explain to me how this will work? No orchestra??? How are the characters supposed to speak/sing their parts and play an instrument at the same time?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 3:09pm

I think the reason some of the instrumentation is different is due to the abilities of the cast. If Patti did play Tuba in high school, then it makes sense for her to play that instead of trying to play the trumpet, same w/ everyone. Sweeney should be a difficult score to play and I sincerely hope it is not made easier or the quality of the playing isn't lessened by this decision.

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:09pm

A little off topic.. but is the kind of concept they're going for?

http://erhardrom.home.att.net/pages/Sweeney.html