| re: Mrs. Lovett or Sweeney: which is the bigger role? (spoiler) | |
| Last Edit: lordofspeech 09:01 pm EST 03/04/24 | |
| Posted by: lordofspeech 08:58 pm EST 03/04/24 | |
| In reply to: re: Mrs. Lovett or Sweeney: which is the bigger role? (spoiler) - AlanScott 06:38 pm EST 03/04/24 | |
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| SPOILERS: My overactive mind is still toying with images of Sutton Foster as Mrs Lovett. In the moment, I found her choices and her daring to fulfill them thrilling. In retrospect, I wonder, and what I wonder about specifically is...what exactly is the relationship between Mrs Lovett and Mr. Todd? In the most outrageous scene, when Mrs. Lovett uses her feet to toy with his ears and then encircle and tantalize his nipples...is there any reaction from Todd? I didn't see one. I think I chalked it up to that men's nipples are not always an erogenous zone. And yet I wonder...if you go that far out to arouse your lover, and there's no physical reaction, what then is the sexual dynamic? Is he completely unaroused? Does she use him like a doll? Are we watching her satisfy herself on him? This is all, probably, offstage stuff, but it's the stuff of relationship. And, sure, in those days, maybe a man wouldn't be aroused and the woman would still lavish her affection and sexual favors on him. Maybe. It would indicate a very desperate woman, when one considers how restrained women of that period were. Restrained and usually not assertive. Just very odd for the time. And....although it's a comedy, maybe a farce, where is or are the moments of rue for Mrs. Lovett? She must have some private moments of sadness that she can't really get him "up," or get any grateful response from him. A propos of this long thread about who has the bigger role...wouldn't it be keen if there were a late song for Mrs. Lovett? When she is contemplating the murder of Toby?....and she might have a song like "Losing My Mind" or "Everyday a Little Death" or even a very dark sort of "Send in the Clowns" where we see her facing the failure of her plan to conquer him. Maybe even a song culled from the tune of "throw the old woman out." It's deep what Mrs. Lovett has done and how she has essentially lost. It seems like she has failed to ensnare him. And there must be a musical moment where she realizes it, and yet elects to continue, because she must, with the murder of Toby. Or is she so deluded that she thinks Todd is hers, in effect. I guess that's the way Sutton played it. Perhaps I'm thinking too much. |
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| Previous: | re: the etiquette of the lady getting the final bow - bobby2 03:46 am EST 03/05/24 |
| Next: | re: Mrs. Lovett or Sweeney: which is the bigger role? (spoiler) - AlanScott 11:10 pm EST 03/04/24 |
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