Sondheim: "Not While I'm Around"

It was a surprise to see the NYT piece on Sondheim yesterday. My favorite mini-essay was from Renee Fleming, who reflected on "Not While I'm Around."

This song--like so many others--has been mistreated by Barbra Streisand. By removing the song from its context, Streisand drains the song of some of its power.

What moves me in "Sweeney" is that Tobias is making a "victim outcry." He is complaining. Because the nature of Tobias's complaint is so disturbing, the words do not flow from his mouth. He also feels that he has to *solve* the problem--though the necessary steps are well beyond his capability. (Because I'm watching "The Pitt," I'm weirdly aware of this kind of subtext right now. The woman who is trafficked seems to communicate with her eyes. The victim of molestation seems to have a conversation with herself--before getting upset and walking out the door.)

Not to worry, not to worry.

I may not be smart, but I ain't dumb.

I can do it -- put me to it --

Show me something I can overcome.

Not to worry, Mum....

The other great gift is that we witness Mrs. Lovett processing new information in real time. She denies, she probes, she accepts, she rearranges her face, she chooses deception. All of this happens between the lines.

A wonderfully unnerving duet.

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