Original Sweeney Todd Material
I'm really fascinated with all the material and original arrangements that Sondheim had written for Sweeney that didn't make the cut into the final show. I've included the original proposed or written lyrics that Sondheim wrote and also some of the ideas that he wanted to make but didn't end up making it to light. Apparently at one stage in the production he had eight ideas he wanted to write songs around, but he only ended up solving five of them. Anyway:
No Place Like London[*]Sweeney to sing additional lyrics
Wait[*]Sondheim stated that if he could, he'd totally rework this song (not sure what's stopping him). Wanted Sweeney to be in a trance like state repeating what Lovett says, before lashing out in the middle and having her subsequently calm him down.
By the Sea[*]Originally to be a duet, with Sweeney starting to become uncomfortable with Mrs. Lovett's ramblings.
Parlour Songs[*]Sondheim originally wanted to have Mrs. Lovett poison the Beadle, but the Beadle, thinking that she poisoned only one, switches the cups around. Both drink poison and die, leaving Toby to sing the
Tower of Bray alone.
City on Fire![*]Extended section with Johanna and the lunatics, during the run across the bridge (in the tune of
Kiss Me!):
Final Sequence[*]Minor re-arranging of Lovett's words in the
Poor Thing reprise.
[*]Sweeney sings a reprise of
Not While I'm Around while cradling the corpse of his wife.
(Source: "Sondheim on Music" by Mark Eden Horowitz.)
Anyone else have anything to add?
