A Sweeney Todd without Patti LuPone

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:44am

Tonight I saw Sweeney and Patti was out. It made me realize exactly how much of a team she and Michael Cerveris are. I felt like he held back so much this evening. The dancing between them looked awkward, and it seemed like he was really stressed. At the curtain call, he got down on his hands and knees (mmmmmm) and did the "waynes world bow" to the understudy. Oh, and I miss the tuba. BIG TIME. I hate to say it, but this production lost so much of it's charm without her. She is such a viatal part in this show, and she makes the job look so easy. Brava Mrs. Lupone. And you were missed...

[Conor]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:54am

I saw it last night and she was coughing a lot during the performance, even in the middle of a few of her numbers. When she came out at the stage door she wasn't talking because she wanted to save her voice, but she still signed and posed for pics which I thought was really nice of her.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 7:25am

Well, I saw it on December 11th, and she was quite sick then. I'm sure she's been going on adreneline for quite some time and I'm surprised she hasn't been out sooner. I'm sure the entire cast was frightened about doing the show with any of the dynamics changed. They each have SO MUCH to keep track of, and I'm sure having to help one of the leads through the show makes it even harder!

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 7:30am

How long will she be out? I hope she's not out on Kids Night on Broadway because that's when I'm seeing it.

[Jenny1284]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 7:49am

Was that the first time one of the understudies went on? Maybe that made it especially stressful. I'm seeing it again in a couple days, but I guess it will be interesting to see the understudy. I hope Patti feels better. It seems like she's been sick off and on for a while now. She was coughing when I saw it in previews.
I'll just have to go a few more times to see Patti in the show again.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 8:02am

I know the NY Times Sunday edition on December 11th said that no understudies had gone on yet. I joked with my partner that, since we were seeing it that day, we would be a the first performance with an understudy. My guess is that this was the first show with an understudy.

[tthomas76]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 8:24am

Patti is wonderful... I always enjoy seeing her on stage in ANYTHING. When she walks out she owns the stage. Love me some Patti!

[ken8631]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 9:06am

We saw it on the 15th (Thursday). She was in, looked like she was feeling OK for what we could see (fromm the front row). Great show!!!!

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 9:10am

I think the standby deserves some credit and respect for being the first standby to go on, and going on for someone the audience was looking foward to seeing.....

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 9:39am

Her standby, Dorothy Stanley, has been working on Broadway for years.

[hen88]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 9:57am

How was Dorothy Stanley? Did she have a different take on the role? Please tell us more.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 11:07am

Feel better Patti!!!!

[Codeman109]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 12:35pm

I saw the show yesterday(Sunday) for the first time and there were a lot of people on line to get a refund due to Patti not being there. I thought Dorothy did a great job, but I have nothing to compare her to. She looked nervous at time, Alexander G had to help her out three times with lyrics but that's understandable figuring it was her first time on, she has to worry about remembering all the music and then has to sing all these songs. Michael Cerveris bowed to her and the cast clapped for her as well at the curtain call. Overall, I thought the show was fantastic and did not mind seeing an understudy.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:09pm

Was Dorothy in the recet La Cage Aux Folles revival? She sounds familiar.

Anyways, I hope Patti gets better quickly, but I think it's great to see that her understudy had the chance to go on for her and play Mrs. Lovett - something that not many people will be able to say they've done.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:12pm

god i love Sweeney. i really have nothing to add except for that fact that i just love this production.

sorry, continue

[ken8631]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:23pm

The cast is amazing in that they need to act, sing AND play an instrument too! Very talented group, and a great show! Mr Ceveris was kinda scary in the role!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:39pm

Do you think the show will be closing because LuPone's out?

[bially082]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:42pm

crysanthemum- hwat do you mean you missed the Tuba? Does the understudy not have to play it?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:48pm

The Tuba part is covered by the Bass. All of the standby's have a different set of instruments than the main cast.

Dollypop- LuPone is not out for an extended amount of time (I hope) so I doubt the show will be shuttering yet. Although I am still worried, with those numbers being in the sixties that the cold, hard winter months will be too much to overcome.

Updated On: 12/19/05 at 01:48 PM

[bially082]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:56pm

I doubt it. It better make it or I wil cry

[bially082]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 1:58pm

Why would the standbys play different instruments than the leads? That doesn't make any sense at all. What's gonna happen if Patti, or any cast memeber, leaves the show for good? They need to find people who play the right instruments to fill those roles, wouldn't you think? That's very strange...

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 2:35pm

Umm, Dolly was joking guys.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 2:38pm

I read an article in last week's NYTimes where it explained how if a certain understudy goes on, they play a different instrument (one they know how to play) and they've got it covered so that no matter who is on, the score is just as full, only instruments might swap out depending on the skill of any particular understudy.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 4:16pm

JoizeyActor, yes Dorothy Stanley was in La Cage, along with Merwin Foard who is the Sweeney Todd standby.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 4:16pm

As a longtime admirer of Dorothy Stanley, I would've loved to have been there. She truly is an amazing performer.