At first he doesn't get what she means so kind of tries to tell him in a way she would to a child and then he needs a moment but gets it and she's like. ''good. You are not that stupid'' (from the way mrs lovett looks xD)
this is why I enjoy watching (I Know a different musical) Miss Saigon live because you can see the performers love it each and every time they perform it.
While I don’t disagree with the gap, I think that the gap between “Good you got it!” and “Take for instance...” was too long. It works better when it feels like Mrs. Lovett is spurred on by Sweeney’s enthusiastic response 🙂
I don't think people realize how difficult this song is to sing. Along with having to hit many dissonant intervals and odd rests (that are meant to emulate Mrs. Lovett's thought processes) trying to add the proper emotional humor must take a lot of work.
That's why I find it so hard to pick a favorite version...this piece is SO difficult (like so much Sondheim stuff), and every actor has a slightly different take on it, virtually all of them great, like this one...Angela Lansbury is my fave Mrs. Lovett, but oh, Patti LuPone gives her a run for her money...
Not to mention this is overall one of the hardest shows ever written period, I mean just listen to any of the songs having to act out the emotions and still get all the changing pitches is rather hard.
@@brockyurich9574 I've watch it 30, so there ya go. 😀 This is the best version of the show. With the symphony, the music is amazing. And all the performances are outstanding.
It's a amazing how every actress gives a completely different interpretation to Mrs Lovett : Angela Lansbury's Lovett seems a loveable but slightly deranged (not to mention murderous) old lady, Helena B Carter's looks like some royalty fallen on bad times very melancholic and bored with her life, Lu Pone makes her into a loud mouthed gossiping bitch, Imelda Staunton creates the image of a bitter working class woman who's passed her prime but still has adolescent dreams (with a bit of murder to spice up life). With such brilliant writing you can never go wrong with Mrs Lovett
@@Mel-mf9jk Emma Thompson for sure plays her as more fearful with Todd for sure tho I think it's more fear of upsetting him and what that could mean in general. Like not so much scared he's a killer cause she's blasé bout death but scared that he'll stop caring for or even just tolerating her. Like losing his love is the scary part. Then maybe in the back of her head going "oh yeah if he doesn't care about me he might kill me shit"
The wickedest song ever composed for a musical. I wish they would make more musicals today like Sweeney. Modern musical, for the most part, are too safe, IMO.
+lf1234 I always feel new musicals nowadays appeal more and more to kids or try way too hard to make comments on social problems. For example, I really Fun Home for its music and production values, but the pro-homosexual messages are just way too in your face that become irritating. That's why I love the old ones from Sondheim or Rodgers+Hammerstein that had none of those baggages and put maximum emphasis on music and storytelling.
I still like Cariou’s more. Unfortunately, his singing wasn’t healthy, but in the cast recording and the bootleg that’s on RU-vid, he gives my favorite performances. Perhaps because I’m a metal fan and his more ‘dirty’ vocal approach appeals to me, but I also like his acting more, it seems more... unhinged, but still sympathetic somehow.
I love how Patti's delivery of "With or without his privates? Which is extra." just had George rolling! You can tell these two love to perform these characters-- especially this song, which had both of them snickering, trying to hold it together, up until that line where they just lost it, and had to try to regain their composure. That's what is missing from the movie! The brevity, the laughter. The movie takes itself way too seriously, with only a light smattering of dark humor here and there. The stage performers know how inherently silly the concept is, and know how to balance the dark moments where you feel for the characters, or you're terrified of them, with the levity of the funnier moments. If you take Sweeney Todd too seriously, you're just not going to have a good time, and it becomes every other edgy story that does the same. Even Sondheim knew that.
I just love the over-the-top madness of her voice. XD I'm not a good judge of who is and isn't a good singer but this is really how I imagine Mrs. Lovett's personality.
When she sings 'Till you notice how well it's been greased ...' she does the very smallest gesture with her hands and hips that basically means getting laid (usually from behind) - so she turns the line into an innuendo.
As much as I LOVE Angela Lansbury with George Hearn, the comedic chemistry between these two is just...SUCH a breathe of funny, fresh air. They just look like they're having more legit FUN! The fun's just contagious. XD
I was in the audience for this and it was not a great seat but it didn't matter. After the show Sondheim came out and took a bow and the crowd went insane! May he RIP and keep on composing up there!
Hearn is the perfect Todd. And LuPone had brought her excellent quality voice,range and timing to this Mrs. Lovett filling it out very very well. The rhythm is excellent and this is often the problem along with the melody which is often lost if not done well.
It just amazes me how much fun this song is, even after I've heard it a million time. It never gets old. I think what really gets to me is how evil the song truly is, and how they just go over murder and cannibalism with such joy and twisted delight. Such an amazing performance, they really do the song justice and, in my opinion, are perfect for these roles.
The chemistry between the two worked so much better with Patti and George. My first exposure, like that of many others, to Sweeney Todd and the brilliant stories of Sondheim was through the movie version by Tim Burton. When I saw the movie, I fell in love with it. However, when I see the stage performances, I go back to, say, the movie version of "A Little Priest" and I cringe at the dull interactions between Depp and Bonham Carter. Not that the movie was bad, all I'm saying is that the interaction between Todd and Lovett is FAR better achieved on stage, particularly in performances like these.
There's so much that's missing from Depp/Bonham-Carter "A Little Priest." But it does fit with the darker, more intensely macabre tone of the movie. The song is honestly just too fun to put the black spin on it that made the movie was it was. But, I think Johnny and Helena had great chemistry in their own right, especially in Epiphany.
As wonderful as this is, the chemistry between Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury (the original Sweeney Todd & Mrs. Lovett) is even better! I love them both! George Hearn took over from Cariou after he and Lansbury ended their run. I saw the original cast five times at the Uris Theatre in NYC, including the final performance of the original cast. Check out Angela Lansbury & Len Cariou reprising their original Sweeney Todd roles for Stephen Sondheim's 75th Birthday benefit concert in 2005. Between Lu Pone and Hearn, and the reprised originals, two absolutel delightful and incredible performances!
Hey, the movie WAS bad. Depp was too young and can't sing. Bonham Carter didn't realize that her two songs "Priest" and "By the Sea" are meant as comic relief. Otherwise, Sweeney is unrelentingly dark.
people are saying that they dont like the tim burton version because its not as comical but thats the point. his version is supposed to be more dark and depressing not funny and uplifting. thats just not how tim burton works
its doesn't really matter how tim burton works, it the point. he was untrue to the material. also, to be frank, that movie brought me to love this musical at 13, but hbc and johnny depp just arent up to the challenge. these characters are, unfortunately, somewhat beyond them.
I was singing this by myself the other day, and gagged on my own spit on accident. I immediately said, "Just had a little dentist earlier!" And no one heard it but me.
This has to be my favorite rendition of A Little Priest: just compare it to the movie version (I know that different choices in style are required when adapting a musical into a film, but bear with me): Depp and Bonham-Carter look and sound like they are concocting an evil plan but they are a little too serious about that, you can still see a spark of sanity in them. These two? They have gone completely insane and we as the audience love to see that: they are laughng their asses off while singing about murdering people and baking them into pies for other people to eat! And that's what's fantastic about this number.
Omfg this is so good... Whatever drove me to listen this show performed by different actors over and over, has shown me just how different a performance can be. This is the first one I've seen where both of these psychopaths are having a blast. Usually, at least Todd is solem, or at least more sarcastic. This one has both of them laughing their butts off talking about murder and cannibalism. Amazing!
When they start swaying together it reminded me of a sweet old couple on a cruise and I don’t know why but the thought of them just vibing on a cruise is hilarious
This scene is really the comic relief of the show. It's uncharacteristic of what the show is widely regarded to be : A Tragic Thriller , as opposed to a Dark Comedy. This scene happens to be my favorite because of the tension it eases from "Epihany" and how hilariously the script and music combined presents itself. :)
Sweeney Todd is a great American OPERA and should be considered high art. As far as I'm concerned, it's the technical and emotional peak of Sondheim's genius.
“Shepherds pie peppered with actual shepherd on top.” In a show with such a dark premise I think a little gallows humor is necessary. And of course Sondheim, the genius, knocks this one out of the park. Love ST, it’s one of my top 3, up there with Gypsy and Hamilton.
Don't forget Sondheim's other Classic "West Side Story". But I agree, Hamilton is Awesome. Especially John Groff as Mad King George. That Pause between "I will Kill Your Friends and Family..... To Remind You of My Love. Dah Dah Dah Dah Daay ya da etc" is Killer. Pun intended. But let's not Forget Evita, Phantom, 1776, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Cats, Carousel, The King and I, Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors, South Pacific, Rent, Cabaret, A Chorus Line..... Lol. Too many other Greats to name. Yeah. Being a Former New Yorker, I guess I'm a bit of a Great White Way Geek.
@@PedarArdRhi Little Shop and Ave. Q are adorable but I would never put them in the same realm as WSS (Sondheim lyrics, but not his words) or The R&H canon. I agree with you about the others, except Cats and Phantom. Webber and Rice together? yes!! Andrew Lloyd Webber on his own? Meh, not so much. (But that’s just me. He’s laughing all the way to the bank! Lol) And I don’t know 1776 at all; only saw a piece of it once, years ago, on TV.
I love how amused they are through this whole scene. This really brings out their mental instability. That was one thing that really disappointed me in the movie. These scenes with all this humor were done so somberly, you missed how close to insanity the characters really are.
I love this George Hearn has still got it as Sweeney, and Patti knows, and understands Sondheim. The bits where they were laughing together were awesome. Also I love George’s voice.
The way she hits those vowels on "An actor, that's compacter"... Man. Just brilliant theatrical singer. I wish I could do that with my voice. Man, what a talent.
George Hearn is one of my all time faves. I so regret that I wasn’t able to see him on stage for Sweeney Todd and La Cage Aux Folles (damn not being born yet -_-‘)
Haha, I’m 31 myself and have the same regrets. George has been hero to me for many years. What a treat it would be to see him perform live! Like seeing Michael Crawford in Phantom
I think that's one of the beautiful thing about the stage! Every actor interprets the role differently and make it a completely different musical or play! 😍 The same goes for the stage designers and directors and costume department!
I love Patti on this song. She really gets into the character. On worst pies at times she seems at times so focused on powering through the song...here she really hits all the subtle bits while still being vocally brilliant.
I kind of agree, but the entire mood of the film was very dark, so having a really funny moment in it would've upset the whole theme of the film. The musical version has a lot of little bits of dark humor throughout, so Patti's version fits absolutely perfectly :)
Yet 'funny' combines well with a dark atmosphere, for it to form into a violent, oppressive undertone whereas being funny, they're always overwhelmingly horrifying at the same time, so I don't think the argument that Burton underwent determining how to perform this number was a decision simple as this.
I like the movie. i do, but I have 1 issue with it. Just watch the stage version (or the concert version in this case). I would describe the musical as a horror comedy. When Tim Burton translated the show to film, he actually cut out a lot of the comedy and the comedic moments. I mean, he made it so dark to the point that Worst Pies, Little Priest, and By the Sea kind of almost felt out of place.
River Stewart Actually, he had planned to do the "Ballad of Sweeney Todd" interludes throughout the movie. It would have featured actor/singers like Christopher Lee and Anthony Stewart Head (who is actually still in the movie. He has a cameo after "The Contest") among others. However, due to an illness (that's all I've ever been able to find out), the filming schedule had to be cut short.
Tends to happen a lot. Just look at Into The Woods, it is SO funny on stage and hardly funny at all in the movie. Of course, some of the humour just wouldn't translate at all, but it's still a shame.
does anyone else love the nod to the orchestra when she says "fiddle player"? i mean, it breaks the 4th wall, IIRC, but those are the little tidbits that remind me that actors love their work and are having fun with it, and makes the show more precious to me
At 6:16 it's sooo clear that he is fighting with his laugh!He can't remain serious! I love that couple by the way! And Patty shows such an italian passional behaviour in this!:)
I LOVE this song so much. I feel they should have added the additional lines to the movie version or at least on the soundtrack. Helena and Johnny were so good as them, but these guys are brilliant for the broadway version. 😂
I disagree about Jhonny and Helena. I didn’t like them as Sweeney, and Mrs. Lovett in the movie. It’s better when there are people who are well versed in Sondheim.
regardless of who the best Mrs.Lovett was, I have to say that this is THE best interpretation A Little Priest I've ever seen! I mean look at those two powerhouses! They have amazing chemistry and clearly love performing with someone of equal talent. I like the enthusiasm they bring to such a huge, complex, enthusiastic song. The subtlety of Angela/Len & Helena/Johnny is fun too, but it's nice to see two people really dig into this song and just give it their all. What a performance!!
The GREATEST First Act Finale ever !!! I stumbled onto the show when it was still in previews and, just as I approached the TKTS window, someone called out "We just got 6 tickets for the new Sondheim" and I immediately grabbed two of them, knowing nothing about the show. (My friend who got the second ticket had it change her life - an extraordinary story but too long to go into here.) I wish I could find some visual record of Len Cariou in the role. Hearn is good but Cariou had a brittle brilliance that was amazing and his chemistry with Lansbury was astounding. It was the second best theatrical experience of my life filled with amazing theatrical experiences. (The only one that tops it is Judy Garland at the Hollywood Bowl, coming back home after her Carnegie Hall triumph.)
I know this comment was made 10 years ago but 10 years ago they did a concert for Sondheim's 80th birthday which included this version, it's this version on steroids, please check it out.
