Denis Quilley and Sheila Hancock in SWEENEY TODD (1980, London)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 พ.ย. 2020
- As today marks the 40th anniversary of the closing of the London production of Sweeney Todd:
Excerpts of the first London production, a replica of the version seen on Broadway, with Denis Quiley in the titular role and Sheila Hancock as Mrs Lovett. It opened in August, 1980, at the Drury Lane Theatre, and closed after 157 performances. The prelude offers a look at the original concept of the grave diggers for Sweeney's manifestation from beyond the grave, which was lost in the commercial film of the national tour.
Seen are: the prelude, "The Worst Pies in London" (3:08), "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" (5:25), "Epiphany" (7:38), "A Little Priest" (9:28), "God That's Good" (11:58), the Johanna quartet (17:02), and the final ballad (20:30). Notice the changes in billing from Broadway during the curtain calls.
![4BANG - NOT LIKE US (REMIX) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HO22cYkha1s/mqdefault.jpg)
I loved this show. I saw it many times - a result of being able to get student standby tickets in the front stalls. Sheila Hancock and Denis Quilly were superb. This has brought back so many memories
Quilley was the first Sweeney I ever heard, and in my view still the best. But it wasn't this production; Julia McKenzie played Mrs Lovett, and she nailed it for me.
Goddamit Quilley and Hancock smash this score. Excellent musical performances - amazing!
Loved Denis Quiley in anything he did! Thanks for posting this!
So happy you enjoyed it!
as a Denis Quilley listener - do you happen to have his "close every door to me" by Andrew Lloyd Webber? I am trying to find this recording, probably from the end of the 90's (my Grandma bought the CD in 2000) and I just love his performance better than any other...
if you or any other person reading my comment, I would love to have it uploaded please! thank you!
Thanks so much for sharing this. I saw this production when I was 16 and, until the show became more popular, had begun to think I’d dreamt it! Great memories. 😁
I saw this twice in London in the early ‘80s. The show was astonishing and shocking and wonderful. I worked at BBC External Services and used to see (and hear) Denis Quilley holding court in the BBC bar. Broadcasters often used to do their programmes half cut. Happy days.
Wow -- _really_ loved Sheila Hancock as Mrs. Lovett!
I wasn't expecting to cheer, guffaw, and clap spontaneously with such approval. The first balladeer/soloist, was impeccable, including a bit of a rasp on "who never thereafter...:" at :22 .This may be my favorite version of the opening ballad and Mr. Quilley, is so chilling at 2:37 , I know well how this works, and yet I had goosebumps and felt surprised by his entrance. BRAVO! He actually seems to be having a ball and yet stays in character. "Dem dere eyes!"
Good quality, wish there was a full recording of this production.
Amazing! An amazing cast!Drury Lane was just big for this show. Better than Broadway!
I can never quite put my finger on it, but there's something so effortlessly breathtaking about the original skeleton of this musical. What a joy to have access to this archival footage. I'm grateful to you for sharing it with us. I have been feeling incredibly sad lately, more-so than any other moment since the industry I work in and love so much shuttered back in March, over how much I miss the feeling of exhilaration that can transpire in the theater. For now, I'll take what I can get, and this is a real treat.
Managed to see this several times and the penultimate show...simply the best cast....
Sheila Hancock as Mrs Lovett is such a pleasure to watch. She’s brilliant. Saw her in Sister Act which she was amazing in. It’s a shame I wasn’t born to see this though. She’s honestly brilliant.
Hot take: This was shot better then the official video. The official video always looks cramped and tight, even with it being shot at the Dorothy Chandler theater. As to here, you got a sense of how massive the show was. Also it better conveyed how London is shown as a dirty, violent, sadistic, and scary environment and is not apologetic about it at all.
To be fair I don't think the show was quite as massive on its U.S. tour anyway
absolutely. and just look at how colorful the show was!
I saw sweeney todd......it was the best production of the musical....Dennis Quilley....Sheila Handcock....the stars....but the biggest star....The Theatre Royal Drury Lane....The home of melodrama...coupled with its cousin down the road...the Lyceum....that show was fantastic...thank goodness it was recorded......I have a sound desk recording of the last two
Performances......
Denis Quiley and Sheila Hancock are terrific! I wonder why the show didn't run very long. I love the way the numbers are performed and sung here. I wonder if there is a video of Hancock singing BY THE SEA. Thank you!
Lots of reasons have been given: for English audiences the story, as opposed to the US, did not have the same kind of exotic mystique; showing so much performance footage on TV deterred audiences from going to the theatre...
I've also wondered much what Ms Hancock's performance of "By the Sea" must have been like, but I do not believe it was filmed, as these excerpts are all there is.
There are audio recordings.
Love this cast.
Anyone my age may recognise Michael Staniforth who plays Toby. He was Mr Claypole in 'Rentaghost' - truly a gem of British children's television.
You can also search title: Sweeney Todd (National Theatre Cast 1994 - BBC Radio 4) *original version*...
1994 would be a revival, but it is a must listen
'Other than shove her in an oven!' What a wonderful thought, Neil!
In Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, I saw Sheila Hancock shoved in an oven by Denis Quigley; then Julia McKenzie suffered the same fate, and Imelda Staunton was roasted by Michael Ball. Three seriously tremendous actresses who could knock spots off of MM, and were literally 'shoved in an oven' for their art. What a tempting thought to do the same to miss cable TV actress, but I wonder if it would actually thaw out that frozen heart of hers? I doubt it. Anyway, give me Dame Sheila and Dames in waiting Ms McKenzie and Ms Staunton anytime over our frozen hearted duchess. Once again, Neil, a fantastic edition to your channel, from an avid member of your army.
This is fantastic! I had the pleasure of sitting in the chair used in the original broadway production!
You were a part of the show? Amazing! What was it like?
@@billysmith4867 No, I knew the man the built it. Only sat, didn't go down the chute.
What a lovely version!
London Weekend Television originally filmed this for The South Bank Show. Excerpts of this recording show up in Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened, so the original 1" C-format tapes must exist somewhere.
Wonderful, thank you! Is this footage taken from the South Bank Show special on the London production? If so, would you consider posting the entire programme? The full version of it currently on TH-cam isn't great quality.
Now I'm interested in finding a video of this production. How did you get this in such good quality?
Same here. I’ve never seen this clip before......and now I want it all!
I'm afraid this is all there is.
I’m sure there’s a full recording of this that’s archived somewhere.
Does anyone know if there’s an album recording of this cast??? Just love Denis Quilley’s voice in these songs, especially in “Johanna”, would love to hear his version of “Pretty Women”.
There is none, but you can find a full recording of the closing night on TH-cam.
Is there a full recording of this version?
I think I can partially tell one if the problems with this production. It's not nearly as tight as the OBC, there are lots of moments that are either too slow or have too much open space. Hancock doesn't do a bad job, but her acting is a little flat and he vocals don't have the "faux-opera" quality of Lansbury.
I certainly agree with you. It doesn't have the same 'electirc' energy as seen on Broadway (I do have a feeling these clips may be of a dress rehearsal and not a performance though). And you're right about Ms Hancock's vocal qualities, even though she too took the character much in line with Dame Lansbury's approach, and also shares her Cockney appreciation for it.
I felt just the same about these nevertheless precious excerpts. The chemistry between Hancock and Quilley seems a bit less energetic and Quilley could be more involved actingwise.
I actually prefer Sheila Hancock to Angela Lansbury. I thought Lansbury a little 'forced' at times. Her voice is without doubt better than Sheila Hancock, but Sheila has that lean, hungry look of a woman barely getting by.
@@andrewlennox7230 exactly