Sweeney Todd - London 1980

It is a true privilege to watch as a genius like Sondheim explains how he uses dissonance and resolution (or the lack thereof) to create atmosphere and to unsettle the audience. Words of gold.

Dr. Sondheim has driven us performers crazy for years trying to learn his lyrics and get them exactly right. It's oddly satisfying to see that sometimes he can mess them up too! He's human after all!

RIP the immortal Stephen Sondheim. A genius of wit, feeling, and scansion.

This Sondheim guy, wow! - "We'll serve anyone..." - the double entendre - love it! The absolute perfect rhymes and well-turned phrases - brilliant! - It's almost as if he's one of the world's best lyricist, or something. And gives the top composers a run for their money, too! - Already so missed!

I've never been more excited to watch a YouTube video in my life

Was cast as an ensemble member in a really good production of this in 1997 using an almost identical set. Getting my throat slashed in the 2nd scene of act 2 every night and dropping through that trapdoor was a great honor for me. 😎

Every obituary of this genius has referred to Sweeny Todd. I remember when it first opened in London and I was dying to see it - I'd seen every production of Sondheims work since West Side Story and a friend had got me tapes of the New York production of Sweeny Todd. Plus I was a great fan of Sheila Hancock and Denis Quilley. Yet the critics, and one in particular, slaughtered it. I wept. I went to see it and despite the audience reaction the show closed far too early. It took ages for those idiots to realise the brilliance of the show and I've ignored critics ever since.

lmao at the director throwing shade at the versions of epiphany where todd laughs walking up the stairs. idc what he says george hearn pulls that off beautifully

The original production with Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury remains in my opinion the best version. This is yet again another work where Sondheim turns the world on its head. The world has lost a genius, a humble man and fine human being. His work will live on though as we say farewell and thank you.

I never "got" Sondheim's musicals. However, watching him here shows how complex his orchestrations are and how much thought he puts into every part of his musicals!

So much better quality than the other version. Lovely to see it again, and I'm in it!

Bless you for posting this amazing quality copy of one of the greatest theatre documentaries! I saw quite a good copy of it some years ago -- much better than the earlier YouTube version -- but then my eyes bugged out when I saw YOUR copy! Wow! It is PRISTINE! I'm SO thrilled you made this available for all to see and cherish!

“Well, it’s not really complicated, it just sounds that way...” Only from the mouth of such a genius...

RIP Stephen Sondheim. Musical genius. RIP Harold Prince. Director, unmeasurable

most brilliant musical ever.

Its amazing how the composer comes up with all of these different moods and emotional expressions for the characters through the musical pieces....good stuff....

This was gold. GOLD. What a find. Thank you so, so much.

i saw this back in 1980 ..going to watch tonight really looking forward to it

I find the breakdown of Sondheim's process in writing fascinating. For a long time, I always wondered why Pirelli's Miracle Elixir sounded so familiar. I finally remembered, being a Dr. Seuss fan. This is from Fox in Socks by Seuss: Please, sir. I don't like this trick, sir. My tongue isn't quick or slick, sir. I get all those ticks and clocks, sir, mixed up with the chicks and tocks, sir. I can't do it, Mr. Fox, sir.

I’ve wanted to watch this for YEARS! Thank you so much for this wonderful upload. Sweeney Todd is my favorite musical of all time.