Why end on "Johanna"?

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:24pm

I saw Sweeney Todd last night (January 31st, 2006) and noticed that the only song that has an ending that does not end an act is Anthony's version of "Johanna." Why is that the only song with an ending?

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:25pm

What?

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:26pm

In other words none of the songs have any ending. Sarah Travis took out all of the applause points of the songs except for Anthony's "Johanna," "A Little Priest," and the final "Ballad of Sweeney Todd."

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:27pm

Well, it gets the audience clapping, so Manoel can run out and shut everyone up by saying "Ladies and Gentlemen may I have your attention pleeeease?" It would be a bit silly if he said it to a silent stage. To me, it's their way of incorporating the audience into the production. Or maybe I'm wrong.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:27pm

I think jasobres is talking about the fact that there's no real pause between the songs for the audience to clap until the end of Johanna, in the revival.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:29pm

Oh, I see.

I agree with Gypsy.

Or maybe because Johanna IS such a famous song - how can't there be applause?

I thought there should be this big powerful applause after EPIPHANY as well. Without the applause, you lose the comedy of "Well, that's all very well."

Then again, maybe that's the point...

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:30pm

I don't think they put applause in because Johanna is a famous song. That might be on the lines of selling out and just trying to please a crowd with an old favorite.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:31pm

Well, that's why I agree with what you said...about Tobias running out for the next scene.

But I was just throwing that out there.

Also, dramatically speaking, there is a break.

Was there no applause after Worst Pies in London?

I don't even remember.

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:32pm

That's right, there wasn't applause after "Worst Pies," the music just decrescendoes instead of crescendoing.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:33pm

Nope. Goes right from "Times is harrrrrd" to "theres a room above, you could rent it out" or whatever the line is.

And your icon is really creepy. hehe.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:34pm

Heh. I am listening to the CR now.

I love Patti on the Tuba during "God, That's Good"

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:34pm

No.

At least when I saw it...there was no big button at the end of "Worst Pies." The song just segued into the Michael's dialogue.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:38pm

Since when is pleasing an audience "selling out?"

Sondheim has said in previous interviews that you have to allow an audience a chance to "come up for air" and applaud every now and then. They feel stifled, otherwise.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:38pm

Doyle removed the other "buttons" in order to heighten the dramatic intensity of the show.

The pause after "Johanna" is there because it makes dramatic sense to pause there, and it is nice to finally get the chance to clap.

After "Epiphany" is a terrible time to clap, I love that it is not "us" but Lovett who breaks the intensity, it builds and builds and is so emotional the audience is on edge... then she hits it "that's all well and good." Much better laugh to my mind.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:38pm

"no big button "

What button? Am I missing something?

[jasobres]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:39pm

A button is musical slang for a big ending.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:40pm

I didn't mean pleasing an audience was selling out. Misunderstood. I meant that letting the audience applaud just because the song is a favorite isn't the best reason to put applause in.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:48pm

I'm guessing here... but applause is usually an emotional "break" for an audience. A chance for them to ease up a bit and appreciate the show and the performance... The creative team probably chose to keep audiences from taking that "little breath," making them feel "trapped" inside their own silence, as much as possible. It would also feel more cinematic to keep the momentum and pace moving forward... Pauses for applause slow it down and relieve tension… Something they decided to do, only sparingly.

Just a guess.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:56pm

The booklet mentions that they purposely played the whole first section of the play to feel like one forward surge, which is understandable because up until "Johanna" Sondheim is still setting things up, and then the plot takes over in the next scene.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:58pm

That's a good point.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:59pm

SP - see, that's where I sort of diagree.

Maybe because I was expecting something that didn't happen, but I didn't think Epiphany built up enough for just Lovett to break it. I don't know. Personal feeling.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:03pm

Oh well, to each his own.

I would have felt cheated to be asked to applaud there.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:08pm

I just wish it built up more...but I guess the audience would have applauded anyway.

Stupid audience.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:09pm

I like Gypsy's reason, too.

I was talking about the show to a friend and I said it really throws out so many of the conventions we associate with musicals--an unmusical musical--and I think that's what divides audiences. I just listened and went into the words.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 4:12pm

That's what I love about this production: The only thing musical about is it that they sing. ;p