Posted: 8/22/16 at 7:45pm
I still maintain that Bernadette would be hilariously wrong as Mrs. Lovett, but I sincerely doubt she is going to be cast in an off-Broadway production of this show in a 130-seat theatre.
Posted: 8/22/16 at 7:51pm
I don't think that this is her chance, but Her and Mandy would be spectacular. I'd also love to see Len Cariou come back as the Judge.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 2:10am
I can't help thinking their ages work against them for long runs. How about a very limited run set of performances, a la Follies at Carnegie Hall or Company at Avery Fisher, etc.?
Posted: 8/23/16 at 11:09am
Wilmingtom said: "Johanna is still a ward which might insinuate she's in her teens. Even if she's 20, that would put Sweeney in his late 30s at the very most."
None of the characters in Sweeney Todd are the conventional-family, "Father Knows Best" types. I could believe that Sweeney and Lucy were a May-December couple (he being in his 40s, perhaps; she even as young as her late teens).
Judge Turpin intends to marry the significantly younger Johanna, and there would seem to be no social stigma in his or his compatriots' minds. I don't see why Sweeney and Lucy need to be the same age.
If Bernadette Peters were to play Mrs. Lovett, I would really like to see her let go of the trademark, curly hairstyle she has both onstage and in real life. I've never seen her do a movie or stage role without it. Bless her, she still looks like an ingenue because of her cupie-doll lips, doe-eyes, and that hair. For my tastes, that does not work for Mrs. Lovette, though.
Updated On: 8/23/16 at 11:09 AM
Posted: 8/23/16 at 11:25am
1) Peters (who will be 69 when this production opens) no longer has the voice to effectively sing Lovett; she would be merely barking before intermission. (Lansbury was only 54 when she did it.)
2) This production will play to roughly 35 people at each performance, and with the British cast coming over.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 11:30am
The original London staging sat 35. Per the press release, this transfer will seat 130.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 11:32am
"
2) This production will play to roughly 35 people at each performance, and with the British cast coming over.
"
There will be 130 seats , according to the NY Times.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 11:37am
The Times quote is "The theater, which will seat 130, will be adjusted to try to capture the intimacy and atmosphere of Harrington’s, which held just 35 audience members."
That's not entirely accurate; the theatre already seats 130-199, depending on the production; seating will be reduced for this production. But please don't take my word for that.
Updated On: 8/23/16 at 11:37 AM
Posted: 8/23/16 at 1:40pm
I'd like to say that when Peters sang the ITW score at the reunion a year or so ago, her voice sounded just as sublime to me as it did on the recording. She could still easily sing Lovett.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 2:15pm
I don't quite see Bernadette Peters committing to an Off-Broadway production of "Sweeney Todd" which is aiming to seat less than a hundred people.
But I do admire the enthusiasm of those who really want to see her play the part of Lovett.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 2:27pm
bekk99 said: "I'd like to say that when Peters sang the ITW score at the reunion a year or so ago, her voice sounded just as sublime to me as it did on the recording. She could still easily sing Lovett."
I was at that reunion, and she did sound great, but there's a big difference between singing two numbers in a concert atmosphere and a full staging of arguably Sondheim's hardest score.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 2:28pm
I'd love to see her in a revival. I saw her in concert in February and she was wonderful. Her voice is still there but there were some rough ish moments where she cracked a little. I think if took on Lovett she would probably work on it with her voice teacher consistently and she would be fine. Maybe this should be a LCT concert or a Avery Fisher Hall type deal? I'd love to see her in a fully stated revival though as well. Anyone know if she's looking to return to Broadway?
Posted: 8/23/16 at 3:31pm
I adore this woman and desperately want to see her on stage again, but at this point I just cannot see her fairing well in this role.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 3:38pm
Maybe this should be a LCT concert or a Avery Fisher Hall type deal?
"
The Philharmonic just did Sweeney in 2014.
Posted: 8/23/16 at 6:52pm
If Staunton has the voice, Bernadette has the voice. I'm so sad that this might be yet another opportunity for her to slip by (even if not the best suited). If she really wanted to play it though for little $$$, I think it would happen now. The producers would be stupid not to want her if they could because with a theatre that small the entire run would sell out at Broadway prices. But it's very possible she doesn't care about it as much as I do haha.
Posted: 8/24/16 at 1:44am
Esther said: "Maybe this should be a LCT concert or a Avery Fisher Hall type deal?
"
The Philharmonic just did Sweeney in 2014.
So what? If the goal is to get a recorded performance with Bernadette Peters as Lovett (and Patinkin???), I think someone could figure out how to present it and make some money for a good charitable cause in the process.
Posted: 2/2/20 at 4:58pm
I just had a thought. What if instead of Bernadette Peters as Mrs Lovett - it's Bernadette Peters as Sweeney Todd in a gender-swapped production a la Company?
Posted: 2/2/20 at 8:46pm
newintown said: "1) Peters (who will be 69 when this production opens)no longer has the voice to effectively sing Lovett; she would be merely barking before intermission. (Lansbury was only 54 when she did it.)...."
And Angela wrote me that she was doing almost no talking whatsoever except on stage while she was in the show. The role is that demanding vocally. I like Miss Peters very much, but I don't understand why people think Lovett is a natural fit for her, particularly at this point in her life.
Posted: 2/3/20 at 10:36am
Wilmingtom said: "Johanna is still a ward which might insinuate she's in her teens. Even if she's 20, that would put Sweeney in his late 30s at the very most. I don't think Mandy plays late 30s any longer."
No it wouldn't, because the standard in Victorian England were for men to marry late--but to marry very young women. Men were supposed to become established in their profession and then save money and then get married. It's most likely Benjamin Barker was in his 30's when he married Lucy, who was probably about 18.
Posted: 2/3/20 at 10:17pm
John Adams said: "Wilmingtom said: "Johanna is still a ward which might insinuate she's in her teens. Even if she's 20, that would put Sweeney in his late 30s at the very most."
None of the characters in Sweeney Todd are the conventional-family, "Father Knows Best" types. I could believe that Sweeney and Lucy were a May-December couple (he being in his 40s, perhaps; she even as young as her late teens).
Judge Turpin intends to marry the significantly younger Johanna, and there would seem to be no social stigma in his or his compatriots' minds. I don't see why Sweeney and Lucy need to be the same age.
If Bernadette Peters were to play Mrs. Lovett, I would really like to see her let go of the trademark, curly hairstyle she has both onstage and in real life. I've never seen her do a movie or stage role without it. Bless her, she still looks like an ingenue because of her cupie-doll lips, doe-eyes, and that hair. For my tastes, that does not work for
Sorry, Bernadette's curls are a wig. She and I have a mutual friend and we've met at his home several times. Her natural hair is darker and she wears a short ponytail off stage.
Posted: 4/7/22 at 2:43am
You know, Bernadette has shown she will replace (A Little Night Music, Hello, Dolly!). Maybe if she is up to it she can replace Ashford if the Sweeney revival goes ahead.
Posted: 4/7/22 at 3:40am
binau said: "You know, Bernadette has shown she will replace (A Little Night Music, Hello, Dolly!). Maybe if she is up to it she can replace Ashford if the Sweeney revival goes ahead."
That would be fab, but replacements aren’t usually twice the age of the person they’re replacing. Not that Bernadette couldn’t still play Lovett, but the rumored creatives apparently see the character very differently for this proposed production.
Posted: 4/7/22 at 4:52am
I hope any future Bernadette roles and performances to be ones that fit her current vocal range and capabilities perfectly, so that the final times she graces a stage get to showcase her talents in her best form. Sadly, I don't think this would be true for Mrs. Lovett.
Posted: 10/19/23 at 12:47pm
Well, I guess it’s not Bernadette but I’ve been asking for 14 years and I’m not about to stop now.
