| re: Mrs. Lovett or Sweeney: which is the bigger role? | |
| Posted by: portenopete 11:46 am EST 03/04/24 | |
| In reply to: Mrs. Lovett or Sweeney: which is the bigger role? - bobby2 02:57 am EST 03/04/24 | |
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| The creators may have discussed this in roundtables over the years, but I wonder if they were trying to balance the weight of the show by casting the second role with a bigger star- true, I'd argue, for most productions I can think of- and then call the show "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"? I can't recall an alternate title ever being discussed. "The Barber & His Wife"? "The Best Worst Pies in London"? "There's No Place Like London"? "The Barber & The Pie Shop"? Regardless of the content of the book and score, a title does shape the audience viewpoint before the first note has sounded. And unlike in the UK, I don't think many Americans knew the Sweeney Todd legend before Sondheim got his hands on it. I like Lansbury's pragmatic nature in anecdotes like this.I seem to remember her saying she'd only agree to play Madame Armfeldt in ALNM if they hired an equally well-known name to play Desirée. (I interpreted this as admitting that in her late 80's she was aware that she might not be up to the task and didn't want any incapacity on her part to torpedo the production. Of course, she needn't have worried!) |
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| Previous: | Mrs. Lovett or Sweeney: which is the bigger role? - bobby2 02:57 am EST 03/04/24 |
| Next: | re: Mrs. Lovett or Sweeney: which is the bigger role? - showtunesoprano 11:15 am EST 03/04/24 |
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