Klarinet Archive - Posting 000030.txt from 2008/06

From: Joseph Wakeling <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] A new kind of doubling (and tripling and even more)
Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:09:01 -0400

Karen Sams wrote:
> The most recent production of Sweeney Todd on Broadway was the same
> way. I believe Patti LuPone, who was in it, plays the tuba. Not sure
> who the other actors were and what they played.

Yes, that was the same director. There's an interesting interview with
him in the Sondheim Review where he talks about developing this style of
performance really as an economic necessity but then about how to make
it work as an artistically beneficial approach...
http://sondheimreview.com/v12n4.htm#sample

Interestingly enough, one of Sondheim's other pieces -- A Little Night
Music -- was originally intended to have each character with an
instrument (although probably it would have been played by a pit
performer, the actor just miming). That was cut, leaving only one
character still as a musician. See:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PVwQQ_U30I

Actor-musicians are more common than you think -- Theatr Cymru's recent
production of A Midsummer Night's Dream had two actor-musicians among
the cast, one who was also a composer, another a songwriter and pop
singer. Or you could look at the work of Northern Broadsides where the
actors discuss actually learning (from scratch) musical instruments for
their production of Richard III:
http://www.stagework.org/webdav/harmonise?Page/@id=6007&Session/@id=D_tT7oULIzRgweWLj2UYjm&Section/@id=1188

[If that long link doesn't work, go to http://www.stagework.org/ and
follow the links to Richard III....]

As for Company, I must confess a preference for the Donmar Warehouse
production directed by Sam Mendes which raises a different issue -- the
singer/actor dilemma. Do you try to sing beautifully? Or should you
risk sounding 'ugly' from a musical point of view in order to illustrate
the character and advance the drama? Here's a few numbers, see what you
think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbfKdq1Dcgk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUfX6BYm08o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khypl3a1hV4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc_n1KX1bWc

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