Sweeney's Whistle

[Mattio98]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 12:39am

Most people say that the whistle in Sweeney Todd is a factory whistle but I tend to disagree. I always felt that the whistle is supposed to be the whistle of a tea kettle and that it's representative of Sweeney reaching his boiling point. Especially considering the when in the show the whistle blows. What does everyone else think? Has there been official word on this from Sondheim?

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 12:43am

I'm pretty sure that the whistle is discribed as belonging to a factory, but also carries the metaphorical content you mentioned.

[Mythus]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 12:44am

I think it's a factory whistle. It can't be symbolic, since Mrs. Lovett references it ("I've been waiting below for the whistle to blow!"). I remember reading somewhere about how it's supposed to show how desensitized people have become (to evil, I suppose) and what it takes to scare us. So it's kind of insulting, in a way.

ETA: Not to say that it can't symbolize other things. ^_^;; I think it symbolizes a warning bell. Everyone hears it but they ignore it. Updated On: 5/30/05 at 12:44 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 1:13am

Hal Prince has specifically spoken about how his production of "Sweeney" was, in part, a commentary on how the Industrial Revolution and factories served to dehumanize people and diminish them as individuals. The whistle is his production is certainly meant to be a blood-curdling factory whistle calling the workers into that mechanized, spirit-depleting environment they had no choice to respond to in order to survive.

Thinking it's the "whistle of a tea kettle and that it's representative of Sweeney reaching his boiling point" is an interpretation generally antithetical to Prince's mode of direction (though timing-wise it does coincide and heighten certain moments of dramatic tension throughout the piece). As a disciple of George Abbott, Prince is MUCH too direct for that. He's said repeatedly that he's not "method" (and knows nothing about it), isn't big on those sort of symbols (and wouldn't know what to do with them) and simply doesn't employ metaphors of that sort in his productions (though, anyone is free to interpret whatever they want into his productions, after the fact).

Bottom line -- for Prince, it was a factory whistle.

Updated On: 5/30/05 at 01:13 AM

[Mattio98]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 1:51am

I figured Prince was way too straight-forward for that but the whistles were Sondheim's idea, no? Does anyone know how Sondheim intended it?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 2:05am

I believe when Mrs. Lovett says she was waiting for the wistle to blow, she is referring to a signal from Sweeney while she's down in the basement where the oven is.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 2:15am

The script says factory whistle and it's because of the industrial revolution as margo said. Sondheim intended it to be a factory whistle.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 2:22am

it's a fu*king factory whistle ... what's the big deal?

[Mattio98]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 2:30am

Would you prefer it if the thread included some kind of innuendo, Cats?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 2:42am

ya know I just can't think of anything sexual about two people eating the meat...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 2:47am

Originally, the whistle was to cue the Chorus Boys wearing only a red thong to symbolize Sweeney's slashing throats.
But that was cut out of town. They left the whistle in though.

I edited this because I first wrote "a bloody thong". That's just gross!! lol
Updated On: 5/30/05 at 02:47 AM

[Mattio98]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 2:51am

Yeah, Prince told Sondheim it was just too much.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 2:53am

Mattio,

You're interpretation is very well-considered and valid. That it may not be the specific original intent of the director or composer doesn't mean that you aren't justified in taking that away from the piece. Great works of art often elicit opinions and thoughts and meanings that completely diverge from their creators' original intentions -- that's the nature of great art. Once a work is presented to the public, it belongs to the world and what it "means" is entirely up to its audience -- it no longer belongs to its creator (whatever he/they meant).

Even if Prince or Sondheim had a different original intent with their use of the factory whistle, it doesn't mean that you're "wrong" in your interpretation of what that whistle symbolizes within the overall piece. At this point, I suppose, you're as "right" as anyone and, frankly, I'm pretty sure that Sondheim and Prince would tell you the same thing themselves. They may disagree as far as what THEY were going for at the time, but I doubt they would tell you that you're "wrong" to think what you do concerning what that particular stage effect MEANS or how it comments on the plot and characters within the finished production.

Updated On: 5/30/05 at 02:53 AM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:39am

Just saw Sweeney again in Philly (Arden Theatre) last night. Amazing production (Thom Sesma has a huge list of B'way credits), and I had "on stage seating." Very cool. The whilstle had an element of a human screaming in it, and it scared the bejeezus out of me every time.
Updated On: 5/30/05 at 09:39 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:06am

Let us not forget that the original production of SEENEY had a set that was actually a steel foundry. It featured wheels spinning and various pullies on either side of the stage. It was definitely part of the Industrial Revolution. Wothout a doubt, the whistle is part of the factory milieu.

Oddly enough, when City Opera did the show a year or two ago, they muted the whistle and as a result the throat slashing was much less horrifying.

[Mythus]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:12am

And the backdrop was a drawing of the outside of a factory, I believe. At least, that's what it was on the DVD.