Sweeney - What'll happen to Tobias? *SPOILER*- Page 2

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 5:46pm

To me, Doyle's Tobias is kind of like Salad Fingers. Cute and cuddly, sure, but definitely sees the world in a certain way. Don't go near him because things might not turn out so well for you. Maybe doesn't really mean any harm... maybe does. Hubert? Hubert Cumberdale, is that you? Back from the great war?

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 6/26/06 at 6:23pm

"So wait, Anthony gets killed in battle and Joanna kills herself?"

But the music's so happy, Officer Lockstock!!!!

[Christoph]

Posted: 6/27/06 at 12:55pm

sicetergo: Yes, but why would Tobias incorporate characters he has had no interaction with or even saw, such as Anthony, Johanna, or even the Judge into his version of events? It would seem that his story would involve only those he knows. And it is hard to believe that the character of Johanna would be a total figment of his imagination, because she provides a compelling reason for Sweeney's vengeance. Plus, he suspected Sweeney of foul doings, but knew nothing about his background or his quest for vengeance. Also, the private moments between characters (Mrs. Lovett & Sweeney, Judge Turpin and Beedle, Anthony & Johanna) are so vividly related that they appear more eyewitness account than someone filling in the blanks to a story they only have pieces to. Unless, of course, none of it really happened and Tobias is a Bedlam inmate concocting all of it in his head. It is an interesting notion, but still seems something of a cheat to me to think that the events had limited to no basis in reality and may only be the ravings of a madman.

Anyway, it was just a thought on the subject. I always remember reading a review of a show way back when where the reviewer brought up the same subject of a narrator relating events that they had no knowledge of and could not possibly claim to know, and how it threw the entire production off-kilter. The narrative in Sweeney is strange and strong enough to avoid such a thing, but I still think having Tobias as the narrator does open up some fascinating narrative questions.