Sweeney Todd Rare 1980 South Bank Show Doc-London Cast 1/10

[1stJJ]

Lovely to see Oz Clarke at the top of the show

[michaelburling]

I was at this special performance at Drury Lane for LWT's filming of the piece. From what I remember the staging worked wonderfully well - I think you had to see it for yourself to appreciate it.

[GWStreicher]

This is awesome!

[AtLastOnTheGround]

Wow. This just further confirms my theory that Stephen Sondheim isn't a human, he's a god. Of music.

GENIUS!

[scotchguru]

Listen to the piano at minute 3:00. I swear it sounds like masquerade from Phantom.

[christinedaae87]

omg yeh your right!! lol i love this show and hal prince what a legend!!! xxx

[ImperfectlyPerfect2]

THANK YOU! This is gold.

[MattBarlow]

Steve's headshot is win.

[kathish]

I've always wanted to see this! Thank you!

[romas1995]

wow amazing

[sglgiles]

gosh.. its amazing how crappy TV's visual quality used to be ;) thank you for uploading this. i've found it facinating.

[oohcool]

the quality is because it is old, and then was uploaded as a streaming video.

[tekato71]

I love the music to ST but don't understand the complicated staging of this show. I hate the bizarre factory idea, the awful backdrop which doesn't relate to any London I know, the tiny little cube in which all the action seems to take place. I think these guys are seriously up themselves and pretentious. No wonder Sondheim's musicals never last more than a few months at a time.

[oohcool]

THe factory is because of the time it take splace in, and the "Cube" is mrs. lovett's shop, and his room.

Spectalce is a huge part of theatre, and wouldn't have lasted without it.

[misscleo3861]

The original staging of the show doesn't reflect Sondheim's original conception, which was as a small and creepy chamber musical. According to Sondheim, Hal Prince needed something more to hook his own interest in directing it, and decided to have it partially be a comment on the effect of the Industrial Revolution on the society (hence the factory whistle and the foundry setting). Do some research before you right off the Master as being pretentious.

[tekato71]

I don't need to research something to find it pretentious, just my opinion. As for Sondheim being "The Master" that's your opinion and not everyone is going to agree with that. I accept your explanation on how the staging came about but I still find it chaotic and a little confusing.

[fountainchain126]

@misscleo3861 You're right about the chamber approach. Sondheim was very pleased with the 1994 London revival of the show at the National Theatre for which the director and designer took the more chamber, intimate approach. The organ (used for the opening prelude) was also added to the orchestral arrangements for the rest of the score which is amazing.

[DistantCousin]

Nolubay - just for your correction, that is not a BBC documentary. It was shown on ITV.

[nolubay]

You are all welcome,it was my pleasure.

[DrWebflaxFLOO]

Thank-you!

[keggss23]

Thank you so much for posting this!!

[chupie]

Thanks so much for this! Wow. I could listen to Sondheim analyze this piece and deconstruct, reconstruct forever. What a gem this is.

[nolubay]

Part two is above in Video Responses.