What instrument will LuPone's Lovett play?

I thought that the general concept of this Sweeney revival is that the cast also plays the music during the show. What instrument does Patti play besides those glorious pipes??!?

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well then, BLOW GABRIEL BLOW!

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I'm intrigued. It's a concept you'll either like or won't--very little middle ground. There will be lots of threads on here i'm sure.

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Well, quite frankly, thank god. I wouldn't mind if the chorus were to be playing musical instruments, but I really don't like the idea of two people singing a love song to each facing out to the audience and playing instruments.
Now, maybe this means I'm predisposed to not liking this roduction but it's clearly a concept that's being shoehorned into this musical.

this concept reminds me of the cabaret revial,

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No chorus or ensemble, just 9 actors.

Bwy Singer -- If the production is anything like the glorious production in London on which it is based (and it may not be, given they way they are casting the show for NYC), then you'd probably best stay home. The production is very, very stylized and presentational, and while Mrs. Lovett doesn't stop to play the trumpet in "Worst Pies in London," she does play in the musical interlude during "Poor Thing" etc.

The show is a completely different look at the material -- call it a theatrical experiment. It worked beautifully in London, but the entire concept was built around that original cast, so its a very risky proposition to try and take that idea and shape it around other people.

That said, LuPone and Cerveris will have to play instruments. There are only nine people in the cast total. If LuPone and Cerveris don't play, there won't be an orchestra. Using only seven performers who only sporatically play wouldn't work. You have to have at least nine.

When I saw the show after it transfered to the AMBASSADOR Theatre they added four additional "ensemble" members who also fleshed out the orchestra. The director has said, however that he is sticking with the original concept of nine singer/actor/musicians for Broadway.

Updated On: 4/28/05 at 11:26 AM

Morosco -- This production focuses on the theatricality of the material as a piece of drama, rather then the NYCO and Philharmonic versions which obviously focused on the score.

It's a viable take on the material, and the show received mostly raves in London, including one from Ben Brantley. They wouldn't be risking bringing it to Broadway if it hadn't already been so phenominally well received.

It's not a question of whether the concept works -- clearly it does -- whether that concept will transfer with a different cast remains to be seen however.

Updated On: 4/28/05 at 11:32 AM

"...This production focuses on the theatricality of the material as a piece of drama, rather then the NYCO and Philharmonic versions which obviously focused on the score."

They should have done a new production of the PLAY instead of the musical.

Won't equity and the musicians union have some objections to this production?

I agree Bennett. It was already revived once, in a scaled down but very by the book production. I think new innovative ways to produce musical theatre should be praised and supported. Don't knock it till you've seen it. Maybe Lupone took the role because she wants the challenge of playig an instrument.

I hope she randomly stops the show and does encores of stuff, like in Can Can. ACtually, i think it would be funny if randomly did encores of songs from can can during sweeney todd

Its definitely Patti. Its not official yet because she hasn't signed her contract, but apparently she's been offered the role and has accepted.

I'm wondering if she had to audition though. I'd like to think LuPone campaigned heavilly for the role and revealed the previously unknown fact that she plays musical instruments.

In other words, I'd like to belief that LuPone proved to the producers that she could bring something to the concept of this production besides her name and previous experience with the role.