Mrs Lovett and the Violen?

Question:Ok, So I was looking aroung Playbill.com and I found this casting call for 'Sweeney Todd' and for Mrs. Lovett they wanted a woman who could play the violen, I looked further and this production is based on the 2005 revival. What's the differance between the revival and the original? Why does she have to play the violen?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Ok, So I was looking aroung Playbill.com and I found this casting call for 'Sweeney Todd' and for Mrs. Lovett they wanted a woman who could play the violen, I looked further and this production is based on the 2005 revival. What's the differance between the revival and the original? Why does she have to play the violen?

Hunter: The most recent revival called for the actors and singers to also play musical instruments. When I saw Angela Lansbury play Mrs. Lovett 30 years ago she did not play a tuba, like Patti Lupone did in the revival.

I believe that in the 2005 revival they wanted the actors to play the in the background at times? I vaguely remember someone telling me that

The 2005 revival of Sweeney Todd did not use a full orchestra -- the cast themselves played instruments while on stage. It was a much more intimate interpretation, only 10 actors and one set.