"Sweeney Todd" Question

#1

"Sweeney Todd" Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:10pm

I saw the "Sweeney Todd" tour last night in Pittsburgh and it was fantastic. The entire cast is very clearly talented. However, I have a question.

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but right before 'Wait,' Mrs. Lovett says that it is only Tuesday. However, in 'Kiss Me,' Johanna says it is Friday. Is this a mistake in the writing?

Also, for the tour, it seemed as if the curtain was a scrim with blue streaks on it. Someone had posted a picture of the curtain when it was on Broadway, and it was more like a regular curtain with cut streaks in it (with light shining through). For the tour, did they just make the curtain a scrim with the blue streaks? That is how it looked from where I sat at Heinz Hall (Grand Tier).

#2

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:12pm

Actually she doesn't say Tuesday. She says Friday. Tuesday was a change for the movie.

#3

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:13pm

Yep - she says Friday.

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So, that was the Drowsy Chaperone. Oh, I love it so much. I know it's not a perfect show...but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue. Ya know?

#4

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:13pm

Okay, I was having a feeling she said Friday, but on the recording and in the libretto it is Tuesday.

#5

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:15pm

She says Tuesday in every recording.

I'm not positive, but it should say Tuesday in the score. I can't find my copy though.

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"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Updated On: 2/2/08 at 07:15 PM

#6

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:17pm

Thanks for the answers! Does anyone know why it is Tuesday on the recordings, though?

And any answer to the curtain/scrim question will be greatly appreciated!

#7

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:21pm

She says Friday on stage....

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So, that was the Drowsy Chaperone. Oh, I love it so much. I know it's not a perfect show...but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue. Ya know?

#8

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:22pm

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"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Updated On: 2/2/08 at 07:22 PM

#9

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:23pm

When I saw the show last night, from what I recall, she said Friday. Why, though, on the recordings would she say Tuesday?

#10

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:25pm

I don't remember there being a scrim on Broadway. Was there one?

#11

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:29pm

I think there was if I remember correctly. I seem to remember thinking it was kind of cool. And I think it looked like described above.

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Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

Updated On: 2/2/08 at 07:29 PM

#12

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:31pm

I stand corrected. On the recording of the revival she says Tuesday, but live she says Friday. I stand corrected, sorry.

This is weird because Angela, Dorothy, nor Julia said Friday live.

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"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Updated On: 2/2/08 at 07:31 PM

#13

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:42pm

There are videos on that one site of the televised performance from 1982, and Angela said Friday. I'm guessing for the recordings it is Tuesday.

#14

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 7:46pm

Score and script say Friday. Not sure about the recordings.

#15

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:11pm

Every recording says Tuesday, but I'm positive that when the tour came to Kansas City she said "Friday." It actually caught me off gaurd.

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"I'm afraid that the children that the two of you would spawn would come out in costume, off book and belting Merman."

#16

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:15pm

"And who says the week's out yet? It's only Tuesday."

Patti Lupone, as Mrs Lovett.

If both songs are sung on Friday, why would Todd be all worried?

"Who says the week's out yet? It's only Friday."

That line, in context, doesn't make sense. Were there more days then than there are now? It's Friday! The week is out. The humor in the line is now gone. Now it's just confusing.

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"Writing is like prostitution. First, you do it for love, then you do it for a few friends, and finally you do it for money." ~ Moliere

#17

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:15pm

Thank you chip08ME. I mean, it has to be Friday, because from 'Wait' through the rest of Act I is the same day. I just wonder what the reasoning is for saying Tuesday on the recordings (and I just checked the 2005 Broadway Revival recording, and Patti says Tuesday).

#18

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:20pm

I'm thinking this may only apply to the revival.

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"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

Updated On: 2/2/08 at 08:20 PM

#19

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:22pm

In the 1982 televised performance (with Angela Lansbury), Mrs. Lovett said Friday.

#20

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:23pm

"In the 1982 televised performance (with Angela Lansbury), Mrs. Lovett said Friday."

That's odd, because on Broadway she said Tuesday. I'm stumped, anyone else know?

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"Light the candles! Get the ice out! Roll the rug up, it's today!"

#21

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:26pm

I think it's time to call Mr Sondheim and get this figured out!

Anyone have his number?

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"Writing is like prostitution. First, you do it for love, then you do it for a few friends, and finally you do it for money." ~ Moliere

#22

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:37pm

Honestly, I think Tuesday is a lot funnier.

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"The art of Illusion is the art of love; and the art of love is the blood-red heart of the world." - Tony Kushner, "The Illusion"

#23

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:37pm

I've heard Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday used in different productions. I don't know why they don't stick with one day, but if they did, then we wouldn't be here discussing this.

#24

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 8:44pm

*SPOILERS BELOW*

True. I'm think though it is supposed to be Friday. Because Mrs. Lovett doesn't find out that Sweeney killed Pirelli until after "Kiss Me," "Ladies in Their Sensitivities" and "Quartet."

#25

re: 'Sweeney Todd' Question

Posted: 2/2/08 at 9:12pm

In the original production on Broadway, she said Tuesday because it does make more sense for her to say that it's only Tuesday and therefore the week isn't out yet.

I think no one realized that this didn't make sense within the show since it's later established that it's actually Friday. So then they changed it to Friday, but that does sound a little odd. Different productions make different choices. I can't remember what the MTI script has.

But, of course, the week isn't out yet even if it's Frday. Todd's shop will presumably be open on Saturday.