1979: Sweeney Todd at the Uris Theatre

Stephen Sondheim's frightful tale of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street has had a very successful history on Broadway. Angela Lansbury first created the role of Mrs. Lovett, the Victorian era pie maker who joins forces with a vengeful, murderous barber to create, shall we say, some very unusual culinary delights for her customers.

The original Broadway production of "Sweeney Todd" opened in 1979 at the Uris Theatre and garnered a slew of Tony awards. Lansbury and Len Cariou took home the Best Acting awards. Sondheim won for his unique original score (both music and lyrics). Hal Prince's direction was awarded as well, along with the overall production being named Best Musical. Fortunately, Angela Lansbury's original performance was captured on video tape and broadcast as a PBS special some years ago. The DVD of that broadcast is available.

Two subsequent versions of "Sweeney Todd" were presented on Broadway. In 1989, Beth Fowler and Bob Gunton played the lead roles in a scaled down version of the show that lasted a respectable 188 performances. But it wasn't until 2006 when Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris took a stab at Sondheim's macabre masterpiece.  Under the direction of John Doyle, who also helmed the 2007 revival of Sondheim's "Company," the LuPone version of "Sweeney Todd" became one of the most critically acclaimed hits of the year. It ran for 349 performances at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

Whistle, I'll be there . . .

Barbra Streisand selected two of Sondheim's numbers from "Sweeney Todd" and included both of them on her 1985 best seller, "The Broadway Album." The number, "Pretty Women"  was recorded in tandem with another Sondheim classic, "The Ladies Who Lunch" (from "Company"). Barbra's second "Sweeney Todd" offering was her beautiful rendition of "Not While I'm Around."

Barbra maintained the essence of Sondheim's "Not While I'm Around" when she first recorded it on her album, and later when she performed it live on stage as a tender lullaby.

In the Broadway show, Mrs. Lovett protectively sings this lullaby to Toby, a young boy whom she and Todd rescue from the abusive clutches of a charlatan. In stark contract to her character's foibles, "Not While I'm Around" allows Mrs. Lovett to display a moment of motherly compassion and love. 

Barbra's studio recording was beautiful on its own, but in 1994, she escalated the ballad to a new level by adding a measure of personal significance. In each of her concert performances, Barbra shared her private photo album while she performed the number as a special dedication to her son.