TODD - Act 2 "I. Death at the Ball"
A newspaper-boy on the street: Evening news! The bloody Judge has passed one more death sentence! Sir, sir, buy a newspaper!
The narrator’s voice: The Judge, the Judge... How to get to him? Suddenly, the fortune befriended Sweeney: a London dandy, dressed fashionably, entered the hairdressing saloon. He got lucky, he drew a lucky lot in the lottery – a ticket to the masquerade at the Judge’s place. Oh, this is really a lucky lottery lot! A stroke of the razor – and the bloody corpse of the dandy follows the usual route from the chair to the meat grinder. Having dressed in a costume of death and replaced the razor with a scythe, Sweeney goes to the ball of the Judge.
The soloist’s voice: The old castle sparkles with lights in the night. Wine and champagne run there a river. The royal Judge invited everyone to the ball, but, for some reason, he did not call on the Death.
Todd: But does the Death need an invitation card? No!
The Choir of Guests: And here she stood, alone, silent and cold, and she stared at the brilliance of the lights, the strange guest from the realm of shadows!
The soloist’s voice: Here are they – jesters, kings and executioners – having fun in a round dance and the glitter of candles. And the minuet sounded, and the quadrille sounded – and satyrs danced with shepherdesses.
Todd: But does the Death need an invitation card? No!
The Choir of Guests: And here she stood, alone, silent and cold, and she stared at the brilliance of the lights, the strange guest from the realm of shadows!
The soloist’s voice: As the tower clock struck twelve, owls hooted far off. Wind threw the window wide open, all the candles went out, and it became dark.
When they turned on the light, they saw the body of the Judge with a bloody sheet on his chest: “Hundreds of times you called me on to executions of the innocent, but forgot to invite the old woman to the ball.”
Todd: And I will take you with me to the other world...
The Choir of Guests: And a string broke, ringing, and a glass of wine fell down. The moon disappeared in clouds, and, with it, the strange guest from the realm of shadows!
Todd: And I will take you with me to the other world...
The narrator’s voice: Here he is, the Judge, very close. One move with the sharpened scythe – and the enemy is defeated.
The Chorus of the Guests: No!
The narrator’s voice: This was the revenge. But... it is a masquerade! Just a masquerade! The judge’s mask covered a completely different person! The Judge is still save, and the entire Scotland Yard has already been alerted of what has happened. Being afraid of exposure and tired of twisting the grinder handle at nights, Lovett suggests Sweeney moving to a small island of dreams: they have money, they love each other, what else is needed?
TODD - Act 2 "At the Edge" - Korol i Shut:
TODD - Акт 2 "I. Смерть на Балу" - Король и Шут
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