What about Mandy Patinkin Bernadette Peters SWEEENEY TODD 2012/3 revival

Ok, at first the idea of of Mandy Patinkin as Sweeney Todd seems absolutely, absolutely ridiculous.

BUT paired with Bernadette Peters as Lovett, it would be interesting, right? He would bring a new dimension of insanity to the role that hasn't been achieved before. Think of his crazy falsetto and tics in "My Friends". And hearing BP's and Mandy's voice together in this song would also be extremely interesting.

I have thought for a long time that Bernadette Peters would be the perfect Lovett, and channelling some of her skills (and chemistry with Patinkin) she could bring new life to "Wait" and "By the Sea", which (especially the first) seem typically neglected.

Sweeney Todd is being revived in the west end next year with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, maybe if it manages to run for a year it could transfer after BP is finished with the Follies Broadway run [if it happens] (though maybe Imelda Staunton could be so good that she would come with it).

I will never stop beating this dead horse (Bernadette>Lovett :P).

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Updated On: 12/20/10 at 05:09 PM

Michael Ball as Sweeney?...I don't see it.

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Sounds like a very intriguing idea that I have absolutely no interest in seeing. I've pretty much had my fill of Sweeney, but trotting out those two for no other reason than putting them together again in another Sondheim show sounds about as appealing as pairing them up in Passion with Patti as Clara. Bernadette is wonderful. Mandy used to be great about 25 years ago. Let's just quit while we're ahead. Hearing those voices sing that score would be painful.

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Updated On: 12/20/10 at 06:15 PM

Maybe I'm just one of those annoying Doyle-stans, but I don't think that any revival of Sweeney Todd will ever achieve the complexity of the one we just saw a few years back with LuPone. Those were amazing days on the board when there were multiple threads all dissecting the symbolism and intricate movements of the actors into the greater motivation of the show. No, it didn't have the comedy of the sort that most productions have, but it achieved something so much deeper. I'd be really hard pressed to ever see another revival of the show, since I feel I've already seen the show at the pinnacle of its material.

That being said, I'd also see Mandy Patinkin in ANYTHING, so there's that too.

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Imelda Staunton as Mrs Lovett--now there's some perfect casting.

Hasn't she played her before? Or am I making that up?


ETA: I hadn't read all of the OP, and now feel silly.

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Updated On: 12/20/10 at 09:42 PM