SWEENEY Revival Instrument Assignments

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 5:59pm

From Playbill.com:

"Broadway's new Sweeney Todd will wield a guitar while Mrs. Lovett totes a tuba, Tobias strings a violin and Johanna handles the cello and penny whistle in the upcoming revival of SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET.

The instrument assignment is as follows: The Beadle - keyboard/trumpet, Beggar Woman - clarinet, Anthony - cello/ keyboard, Johanna - cello/penny whistle, Jonas Fogg - bass, Tobias - violin/clarinet/keyboard, Pirelli - accordion/keyboard/flute, Judge Turpin - trumpet/orchestra bells/ percussion, Mrs. Lovett- tuba/orchestra bells/ percussion and Sweeney Todd - guitar/orchestra bells/percussion."

I cannot wait to see this show! So excited to see how it works out on stage.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/95215.html

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 6:03pm

Fleet Street Band...haha!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 7:14pm

I am so glad Michael is playing the guitar. The next two weeks can't go by quick enough.

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 7:26pm

Michael. Guitar. Sondheim. I might pee myself.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 7:28pm

Wow, go Tobias and Pirelli. And of course, it totally makes sense for the Beadle to play keyboard.

[bernadette88]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 8:37pm

I am so confused as to how this is going to work. I mean really, they can't sing and play their instrument at the same time. I am a little (okay, a lot) skeptical about this....Am i just not understanding something here?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 8:38pm

*sigh*

It worked in London.

[AuditioningWaitress]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 8:38pm

It's one of those things I think is either going to be genius, or something that is going to take away from the action. If that made any sense...

[Plum]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 8:40pm

Bernadette, not everyone is on stage at the same time. And many instruments can be played while singing- the keyboard, cello, percussion instruments, bass and guitar all qualify. Obviously woodwinds, brass, violins and violas are out. :)

[bernadette88]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 8:41pm

Well that makes since. But is it basically going to be a concert version with them singing and playing the instruments. Or is going to be a fully staged production. Sorry for being naive, just trying to understand!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 8:44pm

No Bernadette, its a fully staged production, albeit a very avant garde, presentational, non realistic production. There are several threads that talk about how the show was staged in London if you search.

It's very theatrical, and I thought, in the UK at least, pretty thrilling theatre.

[teh_pretty]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 8:57pm

I am kind of hoping that the Beadle has one of those straps on his keyboard, so that he can put it around his neck and take it everywhere with him. That'd be sweet.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:03pm

Pirelli had an accordian and accompianed her/himself during his numbers. Lovett played a trumpet in London, and was able to sing "Poor Thing" and then grab her trumpet for a quick solo during the "rape" section. It's all very fascinating how the musician/actor thing works -- but it did, indeed, work in the West End. Sometimes actually adding brilliant insight to Sondheim's musicalizing of the characters.
Updated On: 9/20/05 at 09:03 PM

[bernadette88]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:10pm

How creative! It makes so much more since now! Thanks guys.

It has to be extremely difficult learning all that material. You would really have to stay on top of things all the time!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:19pm

I would think it would be an unbelivably difficult production to understudy/swing. Come to think of it, I don't believe they have announced any understudies as of yet....

[Craig]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:23pm

For reference, the complete cast and breakdown can be found on this story dated August 26th

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=4558

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:29pm

Interesting article. But again, no understudies listed. Hope nobody is planning on getting sick...

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:32pm

There are two people playing the glockenspiel. Seems they'd only need one glockenspiel.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:33pm

Well maybe someone has to play it while the other person is "on stage"

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:34pm

How often is the glockenspiel used in Sweeney?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 9:46pm

Alot when you only have ten people playing musical instruments...The orchestrations, by the way are completely new for this production.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 11:31pm

Honestly, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna enjoy this production no matter what. But, I have to admit that I have my doubts about this production. I mean, Sweeney Todd's giant orchestrations are so full and rich. It's one of my favorite things about the show. I'm just so curious to see how everything is gonna turn out.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 12:28am

Is the penny whistle really that big of a deal? Did Michael play guitar before the production?

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 12:31am

Since I've spent a lot of this semester so far reading Brecht, this revival's artistic aims are becoming slightly clearer to me. But my music major ears will still probably react badly to the lack of a full orchestra.

We'll see. I'm going on October 15.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/21/05 at 5:45am

Sweeney Todd staged in small theatres with a reduced orchestration is NOTHING new....

From the Broadway revival at Circle in the Square to the mounting at the RNT in London, the show has been done very succesfully in very intimate settings with tiny orchestras.

It's actually said to be Sondheim's preference for the material. He was not a particular fan of Prince's original staging, at least it was never what he invisioned for the material.