theatre4life
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What the hell?What did they do to Sweeney Todd on broadway?? It's friggin retarded. I saw the Tonys and i downloaded "A Little Priest" from YouTube and it's just like terrible. Of course, Patti LuPone sucks - but i havent liked her since the In Concert dvd. Michael Cerveris has a great voice, and i assume the only thing that saves this production is him and Sondheim's lyrics and the script. The music isnt that great, but not so bad. The set - looks like they're performing in a performance hall or in some corner of a parking garage. Where is the set? Where's the props? Im all for a minimalist set (i.e. RENT, Chicago, etc.), but not like this. To an extent, you can do a minimal set, but have something to it. I wish they didnt revamp this wonderful show.
Sorry for ranting, but thats my opinion. Maybe if the show tours or if i were to get a bootleg of the entire show, i'd enjoy it, but as of now... ::shudders::
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The Very Angry Woman
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It couldn't be any worse than trying to read your multi-colored, multi-formatted post.
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BenjaminB
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I quite agree. I am one for Sweeney Todd being done BIG, but I like how they did this show. I believe it took guts.
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theatre4life
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| The Very Angry Woman wrote: | | It couldn't be any worse than trying to read your multi-colored, multi-formatted post. |
Wow, let's be petty. Sweeney is my FAVE show, so Im not just plain ripping on it.
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Salome
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I think of all John Doyle's gimmick shows Sweeney Todd work best. Its not teh best cast for the show but the concept..a little Peter Weir and a little Brecht..worked well for Sweeney..now if Doyle would stop using that gimmick with other shows like Company,Amadeus and Mack and Mable we can sleep better
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MademoiselleMusicals
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| Quote: | theatre4life
| Quote: | The Very Angry Woman wrote:
It couldn't be any worse than trying to read your multi-colored, multi-formatted post. |
Wow, let's be petty. |
I agree. Making silly remarks like that isn't very nice and civil now is it?
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Kaiana
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I note that Johanna and Toby weren't mentioned. I was very impressed by their performances theater4life. Since you didn't talk about them, I suppose you weren't, but I would certainly count them as "redeeming" factors of the show.
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theatre4life
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| Kaiana wrote: | | I note that Johanna and Toby weren't mentioned. I was very impressed by their performances theater4life. Since you didn't talk about them, I suppose you weren't, but I would certainly count them as "redeeming" factors of the show. |
Well, as i originally stated, i've only seen what was done at this year's Tony Awards and the clip of "A Little Priest" from YouTube.
As i also said - i might just need to see the entire performance, either live or a bootleg of the original revival cast.
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Kaylan
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I saw it on Bway last November and I thought it was spectacular. I agree with what Kaiana said, Toby and Johanna were brilliant! I loved the way they did it. It was amazing to see the performers go from playing their instruments to playing their roles. The most interesting thing I found was that even without the multi level set and many props and more complicated blocking and such I still got the whole story. Not knowing a lot about the show I was concerned that I might not be able to follow the storyline, but it all made complete sense and was fairly easy to follow.
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Kaiana
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| theatre4life wrote: | | Kaiana wrote: | | I note that Johanna and Toby weren't mentioned. I was very impressed by their performances theater4life. Since you didn't talk about them, I suppose you weren't, but I would certainly count them as "redeeming" factors of the show. |
Well, as i originally stated, i've only seen what was done at this year's Tony Awards and the clip of "A Little Priest" from YouTube.
As i also said - i might just need to see the entire performance, either live or a bootleg of the original revival cast. |
Right, sorry about that  There are places to acess other songs though, maybe Amazon and those can be a great deal better than a little priest.
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godspizzle56
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Go see the show. You won't understand the entire new concept until you see it. I thought it would be ridiculously awful, but I saw it in February and fell in love.
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TychoBrahe
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I have the recording. I find the concept interesting and worthwhile. I'm not fond of Cervaris, though.
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katieanne
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| MademoiselleMusicals wrote: | | Quote: | theatre4life
| Quote: | The Very Angry Woman wrote:
It couldn't be any worse than trying to read your multi-colored, multi-formatted post. |
Wow, let's be petty. |
I agree. Making silly remarks like that isn't very nice and civil now is it? |
come on. her name is the very angry woman. what do you expect?
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theatre4life
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| godspizzle56 wrote: | | Go see the show. You won't understand the entire new concept until you see it. I thought it would be ridiculously awful, but I saw it in February and fell in love. |
If i could afford to go to see it on broadway, then i surely would. it is my all-time favourite show and i guess i just wouldnt wanna see it done badly is why i questioned it.
Ill probly for now just get it on bootleg until it tours (if it tours) and then go to see it when it gets to detroit.
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superdave
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Patti LuPone Rocks My Socks off!!!!
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The Modern Art Movement
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The set kinda reminds me of looking at curtain riggings and such backstage. 
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Andrew
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Now now...I'm a big believer in not dissing shows until I've seen them. It's never proved more true than with this show. If you look at it, it's looks stupid. If you sit down with an open mind and watch the show, you'll fall in love- I did. I never thought it could be done, and OH MY GOD was it ever done. Michael has his off nights and his on nights, but the rest of the cast is spectacular- especially note the performances of Manoel Felciano, Donna Lynne Champlin, and Lauren Molina- these are three relatively new names that will soon be up in lights. I'll agree, the tony performance was awrful, and I use that r deliberately. It was a big downfall and a huge missed opportunity to showcase what is happening- perhaps they will do better with Company when it strikes at the Tony's next year. But I digress. Astounding cast, and I don't care what you say- John Doyle's approach is out of this world. Bottom line, the show and concept is having enough troubles getting off the ground- people don't need to hate it without even giving it a shot. Go. Enjoy. Bring an open mind. If you're like me, you'll leave wondering:
a) could the show be done better any other way?
b) how could a show as reinventing as that lose to a fluff ball like pajama game
and
c) What demon barber chair? There's supposed to be a barber chair in the show?
Try it out. You won't regret it.
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theatre4life
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Re: Now now... | Andrew wrote: | I'm a big believer in not dissing shows until I've seen them. It's never proved more true than with this show. If you look at it, it's looks stupid. If you sit down with an open mind and watch the show, you'll fall in love- I did. I never thought it could be done, and OH MY GOD was it ever done. Michael has his off nights and his on nights, but the rest of the cast is spectacular- especially note the performances of Manoel Felciano, Donna Lynne Champlin, and Lauren Molina- these are three relatively new names that will soon be up in lights. I'll agree, the tony performance was awrful, and I use that r deliberately. It was a big downfall and a huge missed opportunity to showcase what is happening- perhaps they will do better with Company when it strikes at the Tony's next year. But I digress. Astounding cast, and I don't care what you say- John Doyle's approach is out of this world. Bottom line, the show and concept is having enough troubles getting off the ground- people don't need to hate it without even giving it a shot. Go. Enjoy. Bring an open mind. If you're like me, you'll leave wondering:
a) could the show be done better any other way?
b) how could a show as reinventing as that lose to a fluff ball like pajama game
and
c) What demon barber chair? There's supposed to be a barber chair in the show?
Try it out. You won't regret it. |
I will admit it is a bit hypocritical of me to diss the show - especially after not seeing the entire thing or seeing it live. I mean, the guy who posted his clips from the RENT he was in said that people dissed him and the show because it wasnt exactly like on B'way. I liked what i saw of it and dont think it needs to be a carbon copy. And, i hated when i did Rocky Horror and my director was just tryin to rip off the B'way revival.
My whole problem with this new Sweeney, is that it just looks like crap - from what i have seen. no props, even.
But, as i've said - Ill judge better once i see it. 
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Tiny-Tot
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I haven't seen the show, but I bought the soundtrack and although the original is great and will be hard to replace I thought this version was well done. Manoel Felciano as Toby voice was brilliant.
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Salome
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Toby isnt a great role to begin with but Felicinao was boring! Ken Jennings is the only actor to make Toby interesting to date.
I am not a huge fan of most of the casting of the new revival. I prefer Hearn,Lansbury, and Edmund Lyndeck.and the female Pirelli just doesnt work.
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Andrew
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I liked the way they handled Pirelli in the revival- I think Donna Lynne pulls it off extremely well- I didn't give it a second thought until much later. Seeing her as a patient in the ward PLAYING the character of the Pirelli made it instantly believable, and put all questions of gender aside. And for the love of all things sacred- the lady learned the accordian for the show- and how to play it with a straight face, creeping out the entire first three rows every time she gets on the front twenty feet of stage.
I think the same thing goes for Toby as Mrs. Lovett on the soundtrack- not seeing the actors makes it boring. If you remember what they were doing, every piece of music they sing or play fits their actions, and it all fits perfectly. Even the sound of a triangle made me chuckle after seeing the show and then listening to it on the soundtrack, simply remembering the priceless moment the way it happened on stage.
Theatre4life- did you see the bootlegged myspace video? I could understand hating that- you couldn't see anything, it was awful. If you check out photos of the production at sweeneytoddonbroadway.com, you can see the full asylum staging- note the entire shelf above the piano is chock full of props and various asylum decor- all the props in the show are kept on this shelf until they are used.
And Cerveris's Sweeney climbs the thing during "Epiphany"- check out the height on that thing.
Peace out.
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theatre4life
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| Andrew wrote: | | Theatre4life- did you see the bootlegged myspace video? I could understand hating that- you couldn't see anything, it was awful. If you check out photos of the production at sweeneytoddonbroadway.com, you can see the full asylum staging- note the entire shelf above the piano is chock full of props and various asylum decor- all the props in the show are kept on this shelf until they are used. |
I did see some of that, but i also saw the video that shows interviews with the cast - like some promo video - and then the Tony awards.
Just didnt sit right with me.
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theatre4life
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| Salome wrote: |
I am not a huge fan of most of the casting of the new revival. I prefer Hearn,Lansbury, and Edmund Lyndeck.and the female Pirelli just doesnt work. |
Thank you. This is what i love about you - you have similar opinions to mine, lol. 
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The Psychopathic Ingenue
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| Salome wrote: | Toby isnt a great role to begin with but Felicinao was boring! Ken Jennings is the only actor to make Toby interesting to date.
I am not a huge fan of most of the casting of the new revival. I prefer Hearn,Lansbury, and Edmund Lyndeck.and the female Pirelli just doesnt work. |
Felicano gave, IMO, one of the most brilliant performances of the revival. I found his acting subtle rather than boring. He put so many tiny gestures, such as sniffing new people like a lost puppy, into the role that you don't see him just as the character of Tobias in the "here and now" of the events taking place, but as the disturbed boy who "creates" the events of the story. Does that make sense? The research that Mano also put into his characterization of Toby is just jawdropping.
As for Donna Lynne Champlin as Pirelli - Andrew hit the nail on the head. Playing the doctor in the asylum who assumes the role of Pirelli in the story made perfect sense to me. Besides, she plays three instruments and two characters, and I thought that as the doctor-lady, she was just a tad short of brilliant - not too many actresses could flesh out a character with only stage directions and no lines.
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Descartes
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John Arbo plays Fogg, not Champlin.
Des.
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Brother Marvin Hinten, S.
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It's Felciano, buzzzzzzzzzzzzz! F-E-L-C-I-A-N-O! FELCIANO! YEESH.
Sorry, it's just I saw him as Judas in JCS and liked that show
mod edit:hey look a mod edit, guess what was edited and win a noprize
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Kaiana
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| Descartes wrote: | John Arbo plays Fogg, not Champlin.
Des. |
I think she was actually referring to the aslyum that the story supposedly takes place in. Champlin is the one who stops Toby from slitting his wrists and I think does something with the straightjacket.
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The Psychopathic Ingenue
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| Kaiana wrote: | | Descartes wrote: | John Arbo plays Fogg, not Champlin.
Des. |
I think she was actually referring to the aslyum that the story supposedly takes place in. Champlin is the one who stops Toby from slitting his wrists and I think does something with the straightjacket. |
I was.
And gah, you know what? I know how to spell his name. That was just a complete lapse of brain cells on my part.
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HedHead
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I've seen the current production twice and, of course, it's incredible. I know I may be attacked for saying this, but I cannot stand the production that is on DVD. In the tour production everything is just too over the top. That is why the revival is very interesting. It strips away any thoughts or images of past productions, and makes the show seem like it is brand new.
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Kaiana
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^I actually kind of lean towards your opinion as well. Finally, someone who sort of thinks like me!
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