Aaron Tveit, Sutton Foster will next star in ‘Sweeney Todd’ — Page 16

Aaron Tveit, on ''Live With Kelly and Mark,'' dishing about his favorite shows; ''Sweeney'' mishaps, and the best ways to fake stage blood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrb116dp9a0&t=17s

Huss417 said: "I'm thinking about going back to see the show this week for Ruthie Ann Miles. Last time I saw the show she was out for A Light in the Piazza. But the plus was I was able to see her in that.

For those who have seen the show in the past few days have Aaron and Sutton pretty much settled into their roles?"

I was at today's matinee. The joy of live theater. Aaron couldn't reset the chair after the Beggar Woman so he used the plain chair for the judge, who crawled off after his shave.

Show's in great shape and in great hands. Nice-sized crowd, who left very happy. Isn't that the goal? The "Priest" shtick is toned down and Aaron's Sweeney really came alive in that number. Sexiest version of that number I ever saw. Same with "By the Sea." Foster's vocal choices aren't as painful in person. Don't judge only by what was recorded. Joe is a revelation. Foster also says "loved," I think.

TL;DR - If this was the best casting they could get, then indeed “times is ‘ard!” Pray for understudies

I was also at today’s matinee and, having now seen all the Sweeneys and 3/4 Lovetts - good god, this was some horrific casting. To counter the previous poster, yes, it’s as bad as the recordings. The audience ate it up though and I was perplexed by that.

Both performers were decidedly out of their league. While Aaron gave a decent attempt at acting the role, he just never came across with any sort of threatening menace. I never felt fear with him and that’s not a good thing. Also, all the songs are in a higher key and he sings it tenor, which was really unforgivable for me.

Sutton, I think, was the worse of the two. She couldn’t seem to stick to any accent for longer than a scene, switching between Cockney, Londoner, and I definitely heard an American slip at some point. She trampled on a lot of the jokes in “A Little Priest” and sounded like Edith Bunker during “Worst Pies In London”.

As excruciating as the whole show was, Joe Locke was fantastic, and I thought “By The Sea” was the only moment of the show that didn’t feel like a cheese grater on my ears and nerves. Seeing the Plan B enacted for the chair breaking was kind of a cool live theatre moment - and I foresaw that was going to happen when the chair was glitching in Act I.

I can’t believe they don’t have a better plan B for that.

quizking101 said: "
Sutton, I think, was the worse of the two. She couldn’t seem to stick to any accent for longer than a scene, switching between Cockney, Londoner, and I definitely heard an American slip at some point.
"

My ears may have deceived me, but I thought I heard her slip in some American (mostly in the form of an American military accent) when she delivered the general/privates line in Worst Pies. That seemed like a strange choice to me.

I much preferred Annaleigh. Sutton seemed a little all over the place in terms of her comedy; Annaleigh felt consistent, yet fresh. I found Sutton's By the Sea irritating. Her seagull doesn't work (not a euphemism), and I found the whole foot thing really weird (particularly when she was massaging Aaron's left pec with her right foot - I just thought that was creepy).

Aaron's tenor voice didn't bother me as much, although it made an appreciable difference to me (not necessarily in a good or bad way, just a noticeable way) during Epiphany, and the Johanna Reprise. For Epiphany, I felt like the transposition dulled the impact of the notes, and they lost their sinister edge. Re: Johanna Reprise, I actually thought he might stay low for a while -- the first couple of notes ("and are") were decently low, but he went high by "wheat."

To end on a more positive note, I believe it was Samantha Pollino's last show. (Maybe others as well.) I only know of her because of her TikTok presence, but I thought her dancing was particularly strong today, perhaps as it was her last performance.

Interview: Joe Locke Opens Up About His New Broadway Gig in SWEENEY TODD
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Interview-Joe-Locke-Opens-Up-About-His-New-Broadway-Gig-in-SWEENEY-TODD-20240225

But to watch... I get to watch the finale scene between Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett from the stairs on the stage, and I come out right before [SPOILER ALERT] he throws her in the oven. But every night I keep coming out earlier and earlier because I really love that song! The other night I came out way too early and I knew I would get told off, but I so wanted to watch it.

That's from Joe's BWW interview. I only saw this after yesterday's performance. I always wondered why Tobias makes his entry after Lovett is dispatched but I don't think Joe appeared early yesterday. Anyone see him doing it?

Looking to go back to see the new cast, what’s currently the best place to sit? Saw it last April and sat in 2nd row mezz, but there was the pervasive whispering sound the entire show, and I couldn’t see that it was someone in audience, thinking maybe it might have been production related. It really ruined the experience for me and everyone in my row heard it was mad about it. Would like to avoid this time if I can if that’s an issue.

I loved my seat in the second row of the Mezz on the left aisle near the center-I felt very close to the actors, and I normally do not like sitting in the mezzanine.

Previously, I sat in Row O, center orchestra, and surprisingly really did not care for the view or experience. I felt very removed.

Dolly80 said: "I hate the title of this thread. Can it be changed to proper English?"

It seems like perfectly good headline-style English to me. I'd put Sweeney Todd in italics if it were possible, but I don't think it is possible in subject lines.

Yes, I too sat 2nd row Mezz when I saw the show many months ago and heard the whispering. I believe it comes from whomever is sitting above doing lights in the catwalk. Was super annoying and frustrating.

A friend I saw it with in the front mezzanine a few weeks ago noticed the same whispering/talking. They also seemed to think it came from the catwalk above us where the spotlights are manned. Very annoying.

FANtomFollies said: "Can we report this whispering issueto the house manager? This seems like something they need to know about."

I brought it to their attention months ago, so clearly nothing has been done about it. It was so f*cking frustrating and took me and half of the front mezz out of the show for the entire second act. The quietest, most intense moments of the show being ruined by middle school whispering above you.

…and before someone says it, no, they weren’t whispering about the lights or the show.