Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

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Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 3:41pm

I just recieved my copy of 4 by Sondheim today and in the Sweeney Todd section, it saays there was a revival in 1990 at the Circle in the Square. I was wondering what the set was like (I'm presuming it was the same set-up back then?) I'm just intrested to hear how they did it.
thanks,
Tom R

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 3:53pm

Well, I can't say much about that production specifically, but I know it inspired the Forbidden Broadway "Teeny Todd." That likely means something.

"Who is Stephen Sondheim?" -roninjoey
"The man who wishes he had written Phantom of the Opera!" - SueleenGay

GO CARDINALS!!!

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 3:55pm

The re-orchestrations are interesting.

-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 4:02pm

It was dreadful.

I've seen amateur producitons that were better.

The one thing I remember that WAS effective was during the Judge's song. The chorus clapped while he whipped himself. It really did sound like leather on flesh (Hope I didn't get any of you leather queens excited.)

What great ones do the less will prattle of

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 4:05pm

It was quite spare, yet quite visual - most of the action took place on the runway like stage, the floor was painted to resemble a cobblestone street, Mrs. Lovett's oven was a permanent fixture on one side, and pretty much all parts of the theatre were used. There was one particularly stunning visual - when Johanna is in Fogs Asylum, there were fingers wriggling from a grate in the floor, as if they were trying to escape. It was much smaller in scope than the original production, although not as small as the recent revival. It worked quite beautifully and deserved it's nomination for Best Musical Revival, and IMHO it should have won.

Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 4:14pm

Didn't last that long, huh? Since there isn't a recording of it.

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 4:20pm

http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4549

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 4:41pm

Ah. Susan H. Schulman directed. I wish I could have seen this. I love her work.

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 5:14pm

Yeah she directed it partly becasue she had directed Company a few years before to which Sondheim had said it was the first production where he really saw Being Alive as an ending that "worked" he was so thrilled. (She later did the York Merrily--the first version fot he finale script)

If you search here there are two VERY long threeads on this production both from within the past 8 months or so--people who saw it seem to be divided between adoring it and hating it. Critics overall liked it a lot though.

I believe the set was kinda all around you with the Judge's house on one side and the bake shop on the other and the actors would walk right in front of you to get form one to the other.

E

#10

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 5:25pm

I've never been able to find the search button, I've been looking since I joined. Also, I have question about the Original Broadway Production. Should I post it here, or start a new thread? If anyone can help me find the search button (I'm really stupid) I would be really grateful.
thanks,
mf07

#11

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 5:34pm

It's under the "Latest Headlines" and the square ad in the center of the page, right above the thread list.

"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" -Family Guy

#12

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 5:35pm

Whoops! You beat me to it...

(And it's not a stupid question - it's better to ask than post a thread that's already been done to death.)

Call the understudy / I can't go on tonight / I'm drinking with my buddy / I'm getting good and tight / Before they raise the curtain I'll be higher than a kite / So call the understudy I can't go on tonight

Updated On: 6/8/07 at 05:35 PM

#13

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 5:44pm

Here's a link:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/boardsearch.cfm?boardname=bway

#14

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 5:50pm

Not to be whiny but I have some issues with the search feature here--it often doesn't find threads that it should...

Here's a dumb question though--what's 4 by Sondheim?

#15

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 6:05pm

A 747 book featuring the scripts and designs for A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, SITPWG and A Funny Thing That Happened on the Way to The Forum. It also includes lyrics from cut songs and articles/cast list for major productions. Thanks for pointing the search button out to me.
thanks,
mf07

#16

re: Sweeney Todd- Circle in the Square?

Posted: 6/8/07 at 11:40pm

I went to NYC for the closing performance of INTO THE WOODS on Labour Day weekend 1989 and also caught a preview of SWEENEY TODD. Having seen the original, the tour and the NYCO editions it was refreshing to find a SWEENEY that worked without resorting to the Hal Prince staging. It was very well sung (Bob Gunton, Beth Fowler and Jim Walton in particular) and even though re-orchestrated fof syth and percussion, the score was well served even if not as lush as the 40+ NYCO orchestra. I liked it a lot and it proved to me that there were other ways to stage the show, and since then I have seen commmunity productions that used a similar approach and worked well.

Eric: 4 by Sondheim re-publishes the paperback editions of the 4 scripts (SWEENEY, SUNDAY, FORUM and NIGHT MUSIC) in one hardcover volume. It has been showing up a lot in book clearance sales lately usually around $10.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

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