Apples2for10
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By The Sea appreciation threadI saw Sweeney Todd for the first time yesterday (love it, btw) and my favorite song is By The Sea. When I went to explore the Sweeney Todd board, I found a poll saying that BTS was the worst song. Maybe it's just me being biased, but I find it very alarming that nobody likes this song. It tells you exactly what Mrs. Lovett's motives are and it's the song, IMHO, that suits Lansbury's voice the best. Plus, it's just plain fun! So, let's hear some positive things about BTS.
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Jud
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That song, no lie, was my FAVORITE part of the Revival. Patti up on that chair having a ball with her props. It was special.
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Salome
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Hated Patti's version of the song.
Lansbury nailed it though. I really enjoy the song. I think the reason alot of people do't like it,is becuse it seems like an excuse for Lovett to have an Act II solo.
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bwayluvor31
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I love this song! It's not my favorite Sweeney song, but it's certainly not the worst, not by a long shot.
Besides being a great song, it also provides the much needed comic relief in Act II. I think removing it would make the show so depressing that no one would make it to the end.
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The REAL Ciaron
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Love the song but hate where it is in the show. It slows down the plot. Really bothers me.
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Apples2for10
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| The REAL Ciaron wrote: | | Love the song but hate where it is in the show. |
I suppose you're right. Out of curiosity, where would you put it?
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theatre4life
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i agree with the fact that it's good comic relief. i dont think it slows down the plot - not to me.
and, i hate every song in the show that LuPone does.
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The REAL Ciaron
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| Apples2for10 wrote: | | The REAL Ciaron wrote: | | Love the song but hate where it is in the show. |
I suppose you're right. Out of curiosity, where would you put it? |
I would either cut it or put is in act I. Act 2 needs to go faster.
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Apples2for10
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| Salome wrote: | | I think the reason alot of people do't like it,is becuse it seems like an excuse for Lovett to have an Act II solo. |
I don't see why Lovett isn't entitled to have an Act II solo. Granted, the musical isn't called "Nellie Lovett", but in the majority of ST casts, whoever plays Lovett always gets not only top billing but is the last to bow at the end.
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Sweeney Hyde
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| Apples2for10 wrote: | | Salome wrote: | | I think the reason alot of people do't like it,is becuse it seems like an excuse for Lovett to have an Act II solo. |
I don't see why Lovett isn't entitled to have an Act II solo. Granted, the musical isn't called "Nellie Lovett", but in the majority of ST casts, whoever plays Lovett always gets not only top billing but is the last to bow at the end. |
Gor some reason, because Lansbury originalted it, a great many production will get someone famous to be Lovett. Thus, giving her the last bow. I hate when bows are taken as who is the biggest part and the most important. Sweeney should always get the last bow, in my opinion.
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Salome
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| theatre4life wrote: | i agree with the fact that it's good comic relief. i dont think it slows down the plot - not to me.
and, i hate every song in the show that LuPone does. |
I hope you dont mean you hate he songs themselves.
Lupone performed them horriblly but lansbury is brilliant in the role. and the songs Lovtt sings are some of Sondheim's greatest work.
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Salome
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| Apples2for10 wrote: | | Salome wrote: | | I think the reason alot of people do't like it,is becuse it seems like an excuse for Lovett to have an Act II solo. |
I don't see why Lovett isn't entitled to have an Act II solo. Granted, the musical isn't called "Nellie Lovett", but in the majority of ST casts, whoever plays Lovett always gets not only top billing but is the last to bow at the end. |
th reason has nothing to do with a character having a solo in Act II or not. its about play structure.
Some shows have major charcters with out a solo. in Finians Rainbow the lead character doesnt sing a note!!
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The REAL Ciaron
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| Sweeney Hyde wrote: | | Gor some reason, because Lansbury originalted it, a great many production will get someone famous to be Lovett. Thus, giving her the last bow. I hate when bows are taken as who is the biggest part and the most important. Sweeney should always get the last bow, in my opinion. |
Where do you get your information from? HAHA. The reason Lovett bows last is not because Lansbury originated the role. It is because she is the most important part of the show. She is the catalyst for almost everything Sweeney does the entire show. She is also the most interesting part in the show. Anyone who has studied the show can tell you that.
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bwayluvor31
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| The REAL Ciaron wrote: | | Sweeney Hyde wrote: | | Gor some reason, because Lansbury originalted it, a great many production will get someone famous to be Lovett. Thus, giving her the last bow. I hate when bows are taken as who is the biggest part and the most important. Sweeney should always get the last bow, in my opinion. |
Where do you get your information from? HAHA. The reason Lovett bows last is not because Lansbury originated the role. It is because she is the most important part of the show. She is the catalyst for almost everything Sweeney does the entire show. She is also the most interesting part in the show. Anyone who has studied the show can tell you that. |
I'm confused. In the DVDs with Hearn/Lansbury and Hearn/Lupone, and in the recent revival, Sweeney bowed last. I've seen three versions and never seen Lovett take the final bow. I guess my question is, when did she? 
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Salome
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She bows last in the dvd of the full show with Lansbury and Hearn. and she did on broadway.
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Apples2for10
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| The REAL Ciaron wrote: | | I would either cut it or put it in act I. Act 2 needs to go faster. |
So you're saying that "By The Sea" slows down Act II? In that case, it slows down Act II no more than "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" slows down Act I.
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The REAL Ciaron
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| Apples2for10 wrote: | | The REAL Ciaron wrote: | | I would either cut it or put it in act I. Act 2 needs to go faster. |
So you're saying that "By The Sea" slows down Act II? In that case, it slows down Act II no more than "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" slows down Act I. |
This makes no sense. GFALB is a key song in act I. Not only does it introduce us to the character of Johanna it sets the mood of captivity for that character. It totally moves the story along.
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Ulla Dance Again!
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Well, I like "By The Sea" because it's a rather cheery little tune.
Do I care if it slows down Act II or isn't a very important number? Nope.
I just like it because it has a nice, cheery little melody to it.
Yes, I'm fairly simple-minded when it comes to things of this nature. 
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Cody
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By The Sea is my favorite song out of the whole bunch! But I have to say that LuPone slaughtered it, and I quite frankly cannot stand to listen to the new broadway revival cast at all! YUCK! But the original broadway cast, with Angela Lansbury, fantastic!!! By The Sea, best song, hands down.
(All this being my personal opinion)
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