Andrew Trygstad performs “The Contest” as Signor Adolfo Pirelli in the Actor's Theater Company Production of Sweeney Todd. Chicago, June 21, 2008
I am Adolfo Pirelli
Da king of da barbers, da barber of kings
E buon giorno, good day, I blow you a kiss!
And I, da so famous Pirelli
I wish-a to know-a
Who has-a the nerve-a to say
My elixir is piss! Who says this?!
[dialog]
[whistle]
[music begins]
Now signorini, signori, we mix-a da lather
But first-a you gather around
Signorini, signori, you looking a man
Who had-a da glory to shave-a da Pope!
Mr. Sweeney whoever--I beg-a you pardon
You’ll probably say it was only a cardinal--
Nope! It was-a da pope!
To shave-a da face, to pull-a da toot,
Require da grace and not-a da brute;
For if-a you slip, you nick da skin
You clip-a da chin, you rip-a da lip a bit
And dats-a da trut!
To shave-a da face--or even a part
Widout it-a smart, require da heart!
It take-a da heart:
I can show you a chart
I study-a starting in my yout!
To cut-a da hair, to trim-a da beard
To make-a da bristle clean like a whistle
Dis is from early infancy
Da talent give to me--By God!
It take-a da skill, it take-a da brains
It take-a da will to take-a da pains
It take-a da pace, it take-a da graaaace!
Rays of Light
