Despite what Sondheim has said in two books — Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions and Finishing the Hat &mdash the tooth-pulling sequence in "The Contest" was in the original Broadway production for the entire run. One section of "The Contest" was cut during previews; specifically, Pirelli's opening section of the number (the section starting "Now, signorini, signori" and ending "Pull all of 'em out!"). That section was, however, included on the cast recording. This is how that cut worked in the production: After the Beadle said, "The fastest, smoothest shave is the winner," there was a brief musical transition, then Pirelli sang "To shave-a da face" and continued from there with the rest of the number.
The first half of the "Now, signorini, signori" section (with one minor lyric change) was restored for the original London production and the first national tour, both of which cut the tooth pulling. Many productions since have followed their example.
Further edits were made in "Parlor Songs" for the original London production. These changes were then employed in the first national tour and many of the productions that came after. Major changes were made to the 1982 Watford, England production, directed by Christopher Bond.
Soprano Evelyn Lear sang "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" in a recital at New York's Town Hall on April 30, 1978, approximately nine months before the first preview of the original production. She recorded it in 1980 on an LP titled Evelyn Lear Sings Sondheim and Bernstein on the Mercury label.
