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

This is from a Rare Southbank Show Special documentary.I don't know if it ever aired.It was made to precede the arrival of the first ever British production of ST in 1980-81.The highlights are large sections of Stephen Sondheim himself discussing the writing of the show from the piano at his home.He details and plays many of the numbers from the score!The Original Director Hal Prince is Featured throughout as well.The London Sweeney is Denis Quilley,and Mrs.Lovett is Played by Sheila Hancock.The Playwright Christopher Bond is also on hand.Enjoy.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Sweeney
• Todd
• Johnny
• Depp
• Tim
• Burton
• Stephen
• Sondheim

[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.

[nolubay]

Part five is above in Video responses

[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.

[lifeafterlife09]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[cmcneela]

Oh ---- please put it back!

[jws1272]

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

[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.

[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")

[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.

[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.