Sweeney Todd Rare 1980 South Bank Show Doc-London Cast 4/10

[lifeafterlife09]

omfg!!! pirelli is an amazing part to play...spoilt brat!!

[hellooldfashion]

i don't understand the pirelli guy at all...you're in the original cast of a Sondheim musical! no small parts only small actors :)

[cmcneela]

Oh ---- please put it back!

[jws1272]

:( Where'd this video go????

[bluebettle]

I hate when documentaries try to pass off legend as being true through innuendo. ("SOME people say that the bones are from Sweeney Todd, so we are going speak as if the events really might of happened- even though its extremely unlikely")

[oohcool]

Yeah I see what you mean. But I can't help but believe it's true (The killing part) mainly because the crime is TOO good not to have been done.

[bluebettle]

Although it's likely that something similar happened in the past (a barber who'd kill his clients, someone bakes someone else into pies), I still really doubt that Sweeney is based on anything from real life.

[oohcool]

I believe he existed. But his name was probably not Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett was probably not Mrs. Lovett.

[avidrentfan]

Do some research and you will be surprised how similar the story is to a real-life event. I figured it was only myth and lore as well. I was shocked to find it very much based on a true story.

[Olotie]

Please! What a prima donna! My sympathy is for Hal Prince, he's trying to be so diplomatic. I'm sure in reality all he wanted to do was wring the ungrateful twerp's neck. Threatening to quit when they're already in rehearsals? He's like a kid throwing a temper tantrum...

Thanks for posting this, by the way. I'm beyond fascinated by the segments of Mr. Sondheim at the piano.

[oohcool]

I know! The scene gets boring when it's too long. The show was verging on over 3 hours!

[jws1272]

The sequence that was most likely cut was the 2nd half of The Contest, which was a tooth-pulling contest. It was included in the original Broadway production, I believe, & on the cast album, but was excised in later productions. Along with "Johanna (Judge's Song)", it's an "optional" sequence that may or may not be included in a production of ST.

[oohcool]

You are correct, and it's best they were cut imo. B/c the tooth pulling scene is not needed, and Mia Culpa (Judge's song) just makes it longer, and it's also not really needed.

[jws1272]

I actually like the Mea Culpa (Judge's Song), because it makes Turpin exude EVEN MORE of a "creepy old man" vibe! Again, though, it was originally cut in the "previews" back in 1979, but has been including in different productions of ST since, including the 2001 ST in Concert. I would have LOVED to hear Alan Rickman sing it.

[oohcool]

It's in the revival/tour now. I like it, it just slows down the act 1 climax. I love the ending when he's like "I'll keep you hear always" I'm always like EW!

[tonebarry]

I have every sympathy with the actor playing Pirelli. You always allow for your part being trimmed in the light of rehearsal, however if his role really has been cut by a third I should thing he would be fed up.

[beardedartisan]

Undoubtedly, but it's still a feature role and he was probably paid much more than the chorus. Plus, it was unprofessional for him to raise the matter in the middle of a rehearsal.

Besides which, I think Hal Prince was completely in the right. As a director, his first duty is to keep the story moving and he can't afford to compromise that duty just to suit one upset actor. I saw one production of "Sweeney" where the Pirelli really milked his part, and that scene just draaaaaagged.

[tonebarry]

Of course he was paid more than the chorus, Pirelli is a solo part! If there really were concerns about the scene dragging, the director should have made clear at audition that the role was liable to be shortened. The fact that he later presents this actor with a fait accompli just shows how expendable actors are to their directors: 'Accept my power without complaint, or we'll just get someone else' No other group of professional people is treated like that.

[oohcool]

What makes me mad is that 5 minutes later he was sucking up and saying "Oh it's okay" yet he made such a big deal in the middle of a rehearsal (Which shows as an actor that you don't know what you're doing.)

[ruthiefanfelix]

who's the guy playing Pirelli??

[harriter88]

The Patron in the Tod Slaughter film of 1936,what a dumb Fu.. for telling Todd he has no friends or family(but calling his money-that he keeps with him-bag in tote his friends-like Sweeney and his razors)in his fat cat glib manner.He deserved to be dumped on his head.

[nolubay]

LOL!you are so right,he had "VICTIM" written all over him.But a victim you want to see victimized.

[chocopopo]

LOL that guy is a total idiot! If Hal Prince WANTS to cut a bit of your part, you don't threaten quitting. What a douche.

[nolubay]

Part five is above in Video responses