ohLOOKitsLEAH
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Does anyone else think that the play sucks?I'm sure the movie's good... everyone says so, and I definitely plan on seeing it.
But the play seriously blows.
Maybe I just had a bad cast?
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mastachen
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The play? o.O
Did you watch it where the actors play their own instruments or did you watch the DVD of it?
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ActingDude17
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She may be talking about a community theatre/amateur production.
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Xack
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Re: Does anyone else think that the play sucks? | ohLOOKitsLEAH wrote: | I'm sure the movie's good... everyone says so, and I definitely plan on seeing it.
But the play seriously blows.
Maybe I just had a bad cast? |
What reply are you expecting in the Sweeney Todd forum?
Quit acting like an ass.
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mastachen
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^relax. This place isn't the Sweeney Todd fan club. People who don't like the show can come here and bitch about it if they want.
That's what people do in the Wicked forum.
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Pannic
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It's a bit stupid to go to the Sweeney Todd forum, on a site where there are several die-hard Sondheim fans, and just say "the play seriously blows" without anything else to it. >_>
Yes, the emoticon was completely justified.
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Kiwi
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Do you have any justification for why the show "totally blows," or are you just saying it as an excuse to bitch about something.
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Snow_White
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| Quote: | | Do you have any justification for why the show "totally blows," or are you just saying it as an excuse to bitch about something. |
I am wondering this myself actually... O_O
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Kragey
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This is going to sound snippy, but there's no other way to phrase it: if people are allowed to post their opinion about how Jekyll & Hyde sucks in the J&H forum, they can do it here without getting mauled. Relax, yo.
EDIT: And yeah, Alex said it better than I can. And people shouldn't be afraid to post things because a die-hard fan will jump down their throat, same as anything else.
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Amy_Vocalist
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Surely it's a musical, not a play ?
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Salome
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a musical IS a play.
"musical play"
plays come in many genres. drmaa,comedy,musical,farce.
Nothing annoys me more than saying a musical isnt a play.
on another note. thisp erson is obviously a spammer.
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Kiwi
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| Kragey wrote: | | And people shouldn't be afraid to post things because a die-hard fan will jump down their throat, same as anything else. |
Well, sure, if they have some actual reason for hating it instead of just saying "this show sucks" and walking away without backing it up.
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Mistress
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^^I agree...it leaves too many questions, one must explain one's opinion so as to not get blasted.
Anyway, from the sounds of it (she said she "saw a bad cast" ) I believe she saw it live, so it mught have been the revival tour...still, she couldn't have hated completely, I mean it's Judy Kaye playing Lovett!!!
anyway, the revival isn't everyone's cup of tea, try the Lansbury/Hearn film, for the original orchistrations and design...it's more colourful than the revival, which is substantially darker and more sparse in design.
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Brock07
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Stand and fight you cowardous dog!
Aren't there other plays of Sweeney though? Maybe the OP did see a straight Sweeney play....
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Kragey
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| Kiwi wrote: | | Kragey wrote: | | And people shouldn't be afraid to post things because a die-hard fan will jump down their throat, same as anything else. |
Well, sure, if they have some actual reason for hating it instead of just saying "this show sucks" and walking away without backing it up. |
Maybe they just don't like it. I have a very good friend who always wants to know why I don't like things--pork, busty women, Redeye, etcetera--and it gets a little annoying. I can explain why I dislike some things, but others I just don't like.
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pish123c
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| Kragey wrote: | | Kiwi wrote: | | Kragey wrote: | | And people shouldn't be afraid to post things because a die-hard fan will jump down their throat, same as anything else. |
Well, sure, if they have some actual reason for hating it instead of just saying "this show sucks" and walking away without backing it up. |
Maybe they just don't like it. I have a very good friend who always wants to know why I don't like things--pork, busty women, Redeye, etcetera--and it gets a little annoying. I can explain why I dislike some things, but others I just don't like. |
It seems like tons of people are all too eager to jump on anyone who enjoys the Sweeney film, revival, or dislikes Sweeney in general nowadays. It didn't used to be like this, and frankly, It's getting way too elitist.
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ConverseSneaker
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She just went and posted that the Secret Garden, although has catchy music, is also a terrible show. 
Yet she likes Wicked and Rent....
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Salome
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Shes' an obvious troll.
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Kragey
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| Salome wrote: | | Shes' an obvious troll. |
Or maybe she just prefers a different type of musical.
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Salome
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no. if that were the case she'd come back here and discuss it.
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Catherine
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| Kragey wrote: | | Kiwi wrote: | | Kragey wrote: | | And people shouldn't be afraid to post things because a die-hard fan will jump down their throat, same as anything else. |
Well, sure, if they have some actual reason for hating it instead of just saying "this show sucks" and walking away without backing it up. |
Maybe they just don't like it. I have a very good friend who always wants to know why I don't like things- busty women, etcetera--and it gets a little annoying. I can explain why I dislike some things, but others I just don't like. |
Well, at least theres a hope for me.
Kragey, will you marry me?
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ohLOOKitsLEAH
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Wow, I spelled SWEENEY wrong!
My bad.
I saw the musical in Toronto, where all the actors play their own instruments.
I just really hated the way it was performed.
Like, whenever someone died, that screech would come on and everything would go red, and it was alright the first time, but after the third or fourth death, it got old.
Also, the acting was pretty terrible, which I suppose wasn't the play's fault or anything.
But yeah.
The songs are good, don't get me wrong!
I just hated how it was performed!
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Pannic
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Then it's the PRODUCTION that blows, not the play itself.
Kinda like the Ted Neeley tour of JCS. Love the show, hate that cast.
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ohLOOKitsLEAH
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But if the way the play is produced is written into the script, it would still count as the play itself.
Does that make any sense?
It made sense in my head...
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pish123c
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| ohLOOKitsLEAH wrote: | But if the way the play is produced is written into the script, it would still count as the play itself.
Does that make any sense?
It made sense in my head... |
The style that you saw the show is just one interpretation of the material. Nowhere is it written in the script that the costumes should be all black and white or for the actors to play instruments.
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Pannic
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| ohLOOKitsLEAH wrote: | But if the way the play is produced is written into the script, it would still count as the play itself.
Does that make any sense?
It made sense in my head... |
But the way the play is produced is not written into the script.
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Kragey
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I think what everybody is suggesting that you might like the show better if you see it in its original format--the version you saw is generally recommended for people who are already fans, since it's kind of hard to follow. If you still don't like it, that's just fine.
| Salome wrote: | | no. if that were the case she'd come back here and discuss it. |
Not everybody lives on this board. She made the post on the 20th. It's the 21st. (And yes, I see that she replied today. I'm just making a statement.)
| Catherine wrote: | | Kragey, will you marry me? |
I don't do marriage. I DO, however, do harems. =D
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YouGotsToLovett
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*tugs sleeve* Mummy, what are harems?
Please excuse the 'mummy', but what are harems? 
I can understand why you wouldn't like the revival version, I sure didn't. I admire how hard they work to play instruments while acting, but it's not my thing.
The play, however, is ---- amazing! excuse my language
I first saw an 'amateur' production at a local thetre two provinces away ( ) I was completely blown away. The music was amazing, the characters.
But that's my story...
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ohLOOKitsLEAH
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| Kragey wrote: | I think what everybody is suggesting that you might like the show better if you see it in its original format--the version you saw is generally recommended for people who are already fans, since it's kind of hard to follow. If you still don't like it, that's just fine.
| Salome wrote: | | no. if that were the case she'd come back here and discuss it. |
Not everybody lives on this board. She made the post on the 20th. It's the 21st. (And yes, I see that she replied today. I'm just making a statement.)
| Catherine wrote: | | Kragey, will you marry me? |
I don't do marriage. I DO, however, do harems. =D |
I guess I'll give the play another shot then!
And Kragey?
I love you.
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Salome
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| ohLOOKitsLEAH wrote: | But if the way the play is produced is written into the script, it would still count as the play itself.
Does that make any sense?
It made sense in my head... |
but its not written into the script that way. thats called a directorial interpretation of the material.
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Jekkienumber24601
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| mastachen wrote: | ^relax. This place isn't the Sweeney Todd fan club. People who don't like the show can come here and bitch about it if they want.
That's what people do in the Wicked forum. |
That may be because Wicked is a terrible show kept alive by the sets, music, and screaming fangirls. Whilst Sweeney was an amazing show, now revived into a movie which is so popular, because, yet again, the sets, music, and screaming Johnny Depp fangirls.
The blood helps though.
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Mistress
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| ohLOOKitsLEAH wrote: | .
I saw the musical in Toronto, where all the actors play their own instruments.
I just really hated the way it was performed.
Like, whenever someone died, that screech would come on and everything would go red, and it was alright the first time, but after the third or fourth death, it got old.
Also, the acting was pretty terrible, which I suppose wasn't the play's fault or anything.
But yeah.
The songs are good, don't get me wrong!
I just hated how it was performed! |
 Are you telling me that Judy Kaye was a horrible actress?!? sorry, but I have rather strong opinions on that topic (just look at my avatar and you know where I stand) I don't mean any offence though.
When exactly did you see it? I saw the second last performance when Alex Gemignani was flown in to play Sweeney because the understudy was crappy...that may have been part of why you didn't like it, if you saw the understudy.
Otherwise everything you hated about the show, I loved...the set, the red lights at the death scenes(although I was fairly close to the front and the screeching did hurt my ears >.<) absolutley everyhting. But then, I'm generally easily to please. I was just happy that I got to see a production of Sweeney.
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mastachen
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| Jekkienumber24601 wrote: | | mastachen wrote: | ^relax. This place isn't the Sweeney Todd fan club. People who don't like the show can come here and bitch about it if they want.
That's what people do in the Wicked forum. |
That may be because Wicked is a terrible show kept alive by the sets, music, and screaming fangirls. Whilst Sweeney was an amazing show, now revived into a movie which is so popular, because, yet again, the sets, music, and screaming Johnny Depp fangirls.
|
I'm kinda shocked you would say this, because that is an extremely bitchy thing to say. So it's alright for people to go into the Wicked forum to bash the show and leave, and it's not alright for people to do that here? Why do the Wicked fangirls have to put up with something horrible, usually from Sondheimists, while whenever someone returns the favor to the Sondheimists, they get called an ass? Is it cuz they're younger and they don't know much about theatre? How very elitist of you. I admit I usually go to the Wicked forum to discuss its flaws, but I don't see why people don't accept that here. I'm sure if 14-17 year old fangirls can handle their show being put down by you or Dawn or whoever, then you can handle your show being put down by other people.
YouGotstoLovett - you know how to use the f-word but you don't know what a harem is?  haha lol
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Kragey
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| ohLOOKitsLEAH wrote: |
And Kragey?
I love you.
|
Who doesn't? =)
Everybody, chillax. People are allowed to have their opinions and post them in the musicals' respective forums.
Harem refers to the part of the sultan's house reserved for its female members, although the modern definition usually labels it as a house full of concubines.
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Catherine
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| Kragey wrote: |
| Catherine wrote: | | Kragey, will you marry me? |
I don't do marriage. I DO, however, do harems. =D |
Well, put me on the list!
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qmechanic
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I can imagine a lot of people disliking Sweeney Todd. I convinced a friend of mine to watch the Lansbury/Hearn DVD with me. My friend has studied piano for over ten years and she likes opera and plays and generally has an open mind.
She did not like the dark humor and homicidal rage. I was a little heartbroken to see her response, but I can understand it. There are people in the world who just don't want to see dark material.
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YouGotsToLovett
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| Kragey wrote: |
Harem refers to the part of the sultan's house reserved for its female members, although the modern definition usually labels it as a house full of concubines. |
Funn...
| mastachen wrote: |
YouGotstoLovett - you know how to use the f-word but you don't know what a harem is? Confused haha lol |
Not my area of expertise 
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Flitterbug
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| qmechanic wrote: | | I can imagine a lot of people disliking Sweeney Todd. I convinced a friend of mine to watch the Lansbury/Hearn DVD with me... There are people in the world who just don't want to see dark material. |
*has recently tracked down enough of the Lansbury/Hearn movie to be going* Um... dark? It looked pretty darn campy to me. Then again, maybe I'm just one of these people who wont call it dark unless it's pitch.
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reedzee
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I can see why someone wouldn't like the revival, or the show in general. The revival is completely different concept and hard to follow if you know nothing about the story. People were walking out of the theatre during intermission. Whether it was because of the concept or the story, I don't know.
I still thought it was fabulous.
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mozurkz
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Don't understand how the revival is not accessible... It's at least better than a red haired woman with a screechy voice and a man in overalls with exaggerated movements prancing happily up and down the stage singing a score that deserves a dark mood and atmosphere....
In any case, I don't know how the revival cast members are, and indeed if you don't know the plot it could be confusing.
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ChorusKidx3
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I loved the version where the actors played the instruments. except patti loupone looked like a whore.
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Kragey
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| mozurkz wrote: | Don't understand how the revival is not accessible... It's at least better than a red haired woman with a screechy voice and a man in overalls with exaggerated movements prancing happily up and down the stage singing a score that deserves a dark mood and atmosphere....
In any case, I don't know how the revival cast members are, and indeed if you don't know the plot it could be confusing. |
It's a little hard to follow if you haven't seen a more traditional version previously.
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Mistress
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| mozurkz wrote: | Don't understand how the revival is not accessible... It's at least better than a red haired woman with a screechy voice and a man in overalls with exaggerated movements prancing happily up and down the stage singing a score that deserves a dark mood and atmosphere....
In any case, I don't know how the revival cast members are, and indeed if you don't know the plot it could be confusing. |
*twitch* *Holding back on homicidal rage against Lansbury/Hearn hater*
anyway, I do see what everyone is saying. I must say that if I hadn't seen/heard anything Sweeney prior to seeing the revival tour in Toronto, and not known the plot or anything about the revival's staging concept, etc. I probably would've have been pretty lost over what was going on. But I DID have a mental picture ready, so I knew what everything represented and stuff.
I think we should just leave the kid alone...it's not their cup of tea and that's all, although I am confused as to why they posted the "does any one else dislike Sweeney" question ont erh Sweeney Forum, where clearly most of the posters are going to be Sweeney fans...
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Quique
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I probably won't be catching the revival over at L.A.'s Ahmanson next month. I've already seen enough of it to know that the concept really bothers me.
Though I love the show itself. I also enjoyed the film version immensely. I've already seen an amazing production of this show back in 1999, and was blown away.
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Sweeney Hyde
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| Quique wrote: | | I probably won't be catching the revival over at L.A.'s Ahmanson next month. I've already seen enough of it to know that the concept really bothers me. |
Quique, I implore you to reconsider.
I thought I knew what it was going to be like as well...and it wasn't quite so...and although those orchestrations that you love so aren't the same...it works very well for this.
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Xack
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| mastachen wrote: | | Jekkienumber24601 wrote: | | mastachen wrote: | ^relax. This place isn't the Sweeney Todd fan club. People who don't like the show can come here and bitch about it if they want.
That's what people do in the Wicked forum. |
That may be because Wicked is a terrible show kept alive by the sets, music, and screaming fangirls. Whilst Sweeney was an amazing show, now revived into a movie which is so popular, because, yet again, the sets, music, and screaming Johnny Depp fangirls.
|
I'm kinda shocked you would say this, because that is an extremely bitchy thing to say. So it's alright for people to go into the Wicked forum to bash the show and leave, and it's not alright for people to do that here? Why do the Wicked fangirls have to put up with something horrible, usually from Sondheimists, while whenever someone returns the favor to the Sondheimists, they get called an ass? Is it cuz they're younger and they don't know much about theatre? How very elitist of you. I admit I usually go to the Wicked forum to discuss its flaws, but I don't see why people don't accept that here. I'm sure if 14-17 year old fangirls can handle their show being put down by you or Dawn or whoever, then you can handle your show being put down by other people.
|
I said that because they showed up and said "It sucks!" with no explanation. Now that they have explained themselves they have lost their "acting like an ass" status.
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moongoddess82
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I'm going to have to agree with the OP on this, especially after they explained that it is the revival staging that they disliked. It looked like a really poorly organized concert version of Sweeney Todd- it was terrible. They had to keep switching instruments and the awful acting to someone downstage by someone playing their instrument upstage drove me crazy.
It was completely working against the material in the script. For example, in my mind Joanna and Anthony are meant to be the grounding force in reality- the only "sane" people if you'd like to put that way- no matter how messed up the "love at first sight" idea may be. Therefore, they needed to be able to believably build relationship to keep the story grounded They couldn't even interract in this show because the Anthony I watched had to play the bass/cello during Kiss Me and I think his Joanna as well- it was ridiculous. They at least needed more orchestra members so that when a lead had to sing a solo, they could move away from their instrument and actually act. Sure, Sweeney and Lovett were given this consideration- but few others were- Tobias had to play while he was supposed to be acting in a scene as well.
I'd seen the original before and I truly do love this show-but I really disliked this staging-the minimalism didn't do the material any justice at all and the instruments were nothing more than a distraction.
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Joshua
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| moongoddess82 wrote: | | ...For example, in my mind Johanna and Anthony are meant to be the grounding force in reality- the only "sane" people... |
Johanna wasn't sane.
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Kragey
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| Joshua wrote: | | moongoddess82 wrote: | | ...For example, in my mind Johanna and Anthony are meant to be the grounding force in reality- the only "sane" people... |
Johanna wasn't sane. |
Er, what? Every production I've ever seen has portrayed her as being a relatively normal teenage girl. She has a horrible case of cabin fever, but she's okay otherwise.
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Joshua
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| Kragey wrote: | | Joshua wrote: | | moongoddess82 wrote: | | ...For example, in my mind Johanna and Anthony are meant to be the grounding force in reality- the only "sane" people... |
Johanna wasn't sane. |
Er, what? Every production I've ever seen has portrayed her as being a relatively normal teenage girl. She has a horrible case of cabin fever, but she's okay otherwise. |
I don't know. Betsy Joslyn made her seem insane. Y'know, the bulgy eyes, a lot of vibrato. Plus I mean, her dad's insane, her mom's insane...
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Kragey
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| Joshua wrote: |
I don't know. Betsy Joslyn made her seem insane. Y'know, the bulgy eyes, a lot of vibrato. Plus I mean, her dad's insane, her mom's insane... |
Well, that's just her horrible singing face. Doesn't mean the character's crazy.
Lucy went crazy from drinking poison, so I don't think that counts.
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Joshua
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| Kragey wrote: | | Joshua wrote: |
I don't know. Betsy Joslyn made her seem insane. Y'know, the bulgy eyes, a lot of vibrato. Plus I mean, her dad's insane, her mom's insane... |
Well, that's just her horrible singing face. Doesn't mean the character's crazy.
Lucy went crazy from drinking poison, so I don't think that counts. |
Still, I think that Johanna would be a crazy. She's been locked up her whole life, hit on by a Judge...
I just think she's crazy.
And I think that's how Betsy Joslyn played her on purpose.
Come on! Someone back me up on this!
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moongoddess82
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Okay, even if I grant that based on her past, Johanna may not have been the most normal, sane person in the world (however, I have to say that I have never seen her played as insane) - relatively speaking she most certainly is one of the sane-er characters. She kills Fogg out of fear and desperation- not a desire for money, greed or revenge.
Even if I grant that, it still is not the point of my post- Johanna and Anthony need to be able to interract for their relationship to be believable and the revival keeps them at complete opposite ends of the stage.. a metaphor for how they've been kept apart by the judge? Maybe... but I doubt it- a cello is ususally in that same position in any orchestra I've ever seen and there is no reason that when they finally get to be together, that someone else can't be playing the cello during Kiss Me.
The whole show overall just seems less believable and very unorganized.
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pish123c
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| Joshua wrote: | | Kragey wrote: | | Joshua wrote: |
I don't know. Betsy Joslyn made her seem insane. Y'know, the bulgy eyes, a lot of vibrato. Plus I mean, her dad's insane, her mom's insane... |
Well, that's just her horrible singing face. Doesn't mean the character's crazy.
Lucy went crazy from drinking poison, so I don't think that counts. |
Still, I think that Johanna would be a crazy. She's been locked up her whole life, hit on by a Judge...
I just think she's crazy.
And I think that's how Betsy Joslyn played her on purpose.
Come on! Someone back me up on this! |
I agree with you. If Johanna isn't played as crazy she is a flat, boring, watered-down character. A slightly crazy Johanna makes sense and makes the character more interesting!
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mastachen
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I don't think Betsy played her like that on purpose. I think Betsy liked crossing her eyes like that when she was a little girl, and then her eyes just got stuck that way.
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Quique
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I'd like confirmation on this from someone who knows. I've been reading about the silly "Johanna is crazy" thing forever and all people are going by is Betsy's slightly crossed eyes during Green Finch. She only does it like for a few seconds. I doubt she meant to portray the character as insane. Correct me if I'm wrong, but back it up with sources, please.
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Mistress
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I can see the reason behind a slightly mad Johanna. She's going stir-crazy from being locked up all her life...not to mention living with a man who wants to sleep with her...I'd be pretty unsettled myself, and more than willing to run off with the first man who asked me to...that's why I liked Josyln, to a point...sometimes the trill got to be a bit too much, but then again I also feel that Lauren Molina perhaps didn't do that enough.
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Joshua
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| Quique wrote: | | I'd like confirmation on this from someone who knows. I've been reading about the silly "Johanna is crazy" thing forever and all people are going by is Betsy's slightly crossed eyes during Green Finch. She only does it like for a few seconds. I doubt she meant to portray the character as insane. Correct me if I'm wrong, but back it up with sources, please. |
I don't have any sources to back me up, but I really really think the character of Johanna is crazy. And also, Betsy does it more than just a few seconds, she's doing it basically the entire song. Plus, she always has her eyes wide open. She makes the character LOOK crazy, which I'm sure was intentional.
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pish123c
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Betsy's facial expressions have nothing to do with my opinion. I truly think that Johanna as a character is crazy.
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Joshua
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| pish123c wrote: | | Betsy's facial expressions have nothing to do with my opinion. I truly think that Johanna as a character is crazy. |
I think it has a lot to do with it.
I think the character is crazy, but I think that Betsy's facial expressions were a way of making it MORE obvious.
You're right, the expressions aren't what make her crazy, but they are a way of showing that she's crazy.
But it all depends on how you interpret the character, as cliche as that is.
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pish123c
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| Joshua wrote: | | pish123c wrote: | | Betsy's facial expressions have nothing to do with my opinion. I truly think that Johanna as a character is crazy. |
I think it has a lot to do with it.
I think the character is crazy, but I think that Betsy's facial expressions were a way of making it MORE obvious.
You're right, the expressions aren't what make her crazy, but they are a way of showing that she's crazy.
But it all depends on how you interpret the character, as cliche as that is. |
Oh no, I think Betsy did play her as crazy, I was just disagreeing with what Quique said...I think Johanna is crazy no matter who plays her.
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Salome
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IMO no one is a better Johanna than Betsy.
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Joshua
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| Salome wrote: | | IMO no one is a better Johanna than Betsy. |
I, too, think that.
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what_the_heck013
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"sucks" and "blows". two very sophisticated and intellectual words that real give a constructive review of such a terrible musical.
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Snow_White
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I love Betsy.
Woo!
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moongoddess82
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psychologically ill people have regularly crossed eyes? I think that if that is Betsy's way of showing that Johanna is crazy, then she's "playing" crazy rather than actually being true to the emotional state of being psychologically ill.
I would call that bad acting.
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Salome
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She is far from a bad actress. you are such a judge of talent *sarcasm*
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moongoddess82
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Salome try keeping a discussion away from personal attacks for once, kay? Not that I think what you said was horrible or anything- but still. Keep it to the topic, not about me- you know nothing about me so you can't say whether I am or am not a good judge of talent. Your judgement of things is not necessarily the right or only answer.
Notice how I said "IF" that is how she is showing Johanna as being crazy. I have no idea what her intention actually was, but you are all raving about how these crossed eyes PROVE she's trying to show Johanna as crazy.
One thing I can tell you about me- I have a degree in psychology and have studied psychological illness- she would have some serious social disorders, possibly depression- none of which would be manifested in crossed eyes. Even if by some reason she had a more severe illness, I can't think of one that results in crossed eyes. A physical deformity, maybe- but that doesn't show that she's psychologically ill.
If she's playing crazy by crossing her eyes than it is not trying to BE ill- she's simply making a farce out of the idea. Maybe she was told to do that, to make it really silly- I have no idea. In that case then yes, it isn't bad acting- it is an artistic choice.
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Salome
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one word...
BRECHTIAN
and btw.. I never once brought up the cross-eyed moment. all of you on both sides of the argument are putting stock in one or two breif moments. look at the whole well nuanced performance.
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moongoddess82
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are you suggesting that she would cross her eyes to represent psychological illness in a Bechtian attempt to maintain the audience's emotional distance from her and show that it isn't reality? Wouldn't it have been simpler to just avoid the whole crazy aspect altogether? It would avoid portraying something that the audience may sympathize with or mentioning a social issue that Sondheim never goes any further with in Johanna's character.
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Dots Parasole
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Betsy is a terrible actress. Sorry Salome. She is waaaaaaay over the top, much like her husband at the time George Hearn.
Sarah Rice was a wonderful Johanna.
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Salome
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no one beats Hearn as Todd not even Cariou.
I always disliked Rice's boring rendition's of Johanna's songs.
Joslyn also excelled years later in Doll's Life and Les MIz.
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qmechanic
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| Dots Parasole wrote: | Betsy is a terrible actress. Sorry Salome. She is waaaaaaay over the top, much like her husband at the time George Hearn.
Sarah Rice was a wonderful Johanna. |
I felt like Hearn was a little over the top in the stage video with Angela Lansbury. I preferred his performance in the concert video. But I think George Hearn rocks! He's got a voice to die for! I'm going to try and catch his performance in the Visit. I'll stalk him afterwards for his autograph.
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qmechanic
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| Salome wrote: | no one beats Hearn as Todd not even Cariou.
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Salome, did you get a chance to see Cariou perform live? I want to go down to New York sometime and see the tape of Cariou's performance at the Lincoln Center archives.
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Mistress
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| Dots Parasole wrote: | | Betsy is a terrible actress. Sorry Salome. She is waaaaaaay over the top, much like her husband at the time George Hearn. |
Woaaaaaaah there...Joslyn was married to Hearn?!?!...Must've been quite the age difference...how come I didn't this before?...it still seems a little scary that Hearn's wife was playing his daughter...
Anyway...I like both Joslyn and Hearn, but do agree that were just a tad over the top...but that's what made it fun. 
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Quique
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Betsy is such a great actress, she played Mme. T. exactly the same way...
...crossed eyes and all. Yeah, sure.
I think some people look too hard into things and misinterpret what is merely an actor's quirk as some profound acting choice/interpretation.
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mastachen
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^ I can honestly imagine Johanna ending up like that when she grows old.
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Quique
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Betsy would've been an awesome beggar woman. XD
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shakalakababy
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I did not like Betsy at all in sweeney todd. Her vibrato made me want to shoot myself in the head.
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Kragey
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| mastachen wrote: | | ^ I can honestly imagine Johanna ending up like that when she grows old. |
LOL!
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Salome
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| Mistress wrote: | | Dots Parasole wrote: | | Betsy is a terrible actress. Sorry Salome. She is waaaaaaay over the top, much like her husband at the time George Hearn. |
Woaaaaaaah there...Joslyn was married to Hearn?!?!...Must've been quite the age difference...how come I didn't this before?...it still seems a little scary that Hearn's wife was playing his daughter...
Anyway...I like both Joslyn and Hearn, but do agree that were just a tad over the top...but that's what made it fun. |
She was number 3 of his 6 wivesi tihnk lol he also was married to Dixie Carter.
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Salome
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| qmechanic wrote: | | Salome wrote: | no one beats Hearn as Todd not even Cariou.
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Salome, did you get a chance to see Cariou perform live? I want to go down to New York sometime and see the tape of Cariou's performance at the Lincoln Center archives. |
too young to have seen cariou live but i have seen him on bootleg of course. wonderful actor but i still think Hearn nailedt he role.
Cariou of course owns Frederick Egerman.
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Mistress
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See, I'm curious now. You don't think Hearn was eating too much of the scenery? He was romping around up there like mad...he's acting was very...big. And zealous at that. To me he chewed the scenery, but that's exactly what I enjoyed about it nonetheless. He had fun acting , and I had fun watching him act.
At the sametime, I like quiter Sweeney's who bottle it in until Epiphany so it really hits you....what do you think?
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Kragey
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| Mistress wrote: | | At the sametime, I like quiter Sweeney's who bottle it in until Epiphany so it really hits you....what do you think? |
I like a variety of interpretations, but I do enjoy a Sweeney who is very evasive and quiet (until "Epiphany," which is where I expect some crazy to come in!) with a Lovett who is just off the wall.
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Salome
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| Mistress wrote: | See, I'm curious now. You don't think Hearn was eating too much of the scenery? He was romping around up there like mad...he's acting was very...big. And zealous at that. To me he chewed the scenery, but that's exactly what I enjoyed about it nonetheless. He had fun acting , and I had fun watching him act.
At the sametime, I like quiter Sweeney's who bottle it in until Epiphany so it really hits you....what do you think? |
Sweeney is a melodrama, a penny dreadful. hearn did it exactly as it should be done.
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Pannic
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Betsy Joslyn's performance came off on me as "dumb blonde."
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Briguy04
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Re: Does anyone else think that the play sucks? | ohLOOKitsLEAH wrote: | I'm sure the movie's good... everyone says so, and I definitely plan on seeing it.
But the play seriously blows.
Maybe I just had a bad cast? |
umm gonna provide any examples to why it "blows"?
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Joshua
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| Salome wrote: | A musical IS a play.
"musical play"
Plays come in many genres. Drama, comedy, musical, farce.
Nothing annoys me more than saying a musical isn't a play.
On another note, this person is obviously a spammer. |
Well.....technically it's an operetta. *runs behind barricades*
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Kragey
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^ It's only an operetta/opera in some parts of the world, because different regions have different standards. It's not considered an opera in most parts of America, because operas have no dialogue: everything is sung.
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Joshua
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| Kragey wrote: | | ^ It's only an operetta/opera in some parts of the world, because different regions have different standards. |
Well, it's an dark operetta because some of it is dialogue, but most of it is music.
| Kragey wrote: | | It's not considered an opera in most parts of America, because operas have no dialogue: everything is sung. |
I didn't say it's an opera, I said operetta.
According to Wikipedia, | Quote: | | Normally some of the libretto of an operetta is spoken rather than sung. |
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Pannic
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| Kragey wrote: | | ^ It's only an operetta/opera in some parts of the world, because different regions have different standards. It's not considered an opera in most parts of America, because operas have no dialogue: everything is sung. |
What about The Magic Flute?
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Mistress
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| Salome wrote: | | Mistress wrote: | See, I'm curious now. You don't think Hearn was eating too much of the scenery? He was romping around up there like mad...he's acting was very...big. And zealous at that. To me he chewed the scenery, but that's exactly what I enjoyed about it nonetheless. He had fun acting , and I had fun watching him act.
At the sametime, I like quiter Sweeney's who bottle it in until Epiphany so it really hits you....what do you think? |
Sweeney is a melodrama, a penny dreadful. hearn did it exactly as it should be done. |
Ohhhhhh, I see your point. It is spot on in that sense. thanks for the enlightenment.
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Kragey
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| Pannic wrote: | | Kragey wrote: | | ^ It's only an operetta/opera in some parts of the world, because different regions have different standards. It's not considered an opera in most parts of America, because operas have no dialogue: everything is sung. |
What about The Magic Flute? |
Comic operas are a little different, at least in my experience. And again, it varies from region to region, but where I live, Sweeney Todd is not considered an opera.
And you're trusting Wikipedia? I mean, it's okay, but I swear to God, 1/5 articles on Wikipedia have at least 1 facutal inaccuracy in them. Every time I see Cherry Poppin' Daddies credited in the Back to the Future article, I cringe.
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Pannic
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The Magic Flute is considered an opera (I've never heard it defined as anything other than an opera), but there is spoken dialogue in it, unless I am very much mistaken. As for Wikipedia, I found mention in two different articles (one of which was on the opera itself) that The Magic Flute uses Singspiel, which is a German term used to describe an operatic work that has spoken dialogue.
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Patrick
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Amplification (or lack thereof) has a lot to do with what is or is not an opera.
just so you know
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Quique
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Vice
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| Mistress wrote: | | At the sametime, I like quiter Sweeney's who bottle it in until Epiphany so it really hits you....what do you think? |
Not to bring up an old topic, but I agree with this. "... his manner mild. He seldom laughed, but he often smiled." I think it plays into the lyrics if this is done.
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