Betty in Sweeney?

#1

Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:16pm

after reading all this about about cyndi lauper, i'm really confused. i heard tons and tons about betty buckley taking this role. i know that theatre people gossip, but this was real stuff i was hearing about costume makers and her going in for wig fittings and everything, even one of her voice students mentioned it, so i'm really confused. does anyone know anything?

#2

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:18pm

It just said that Lauper was impressive and that she auditioned - nothing more.

I personally haven't heard the Buckley rumour at all.

I'm sure at this point, they're considering several people.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#3

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:22pm

I think Buckley is eminently qualified for - even experienced at - eating innocent people for breakfast.

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Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

Updated On: 4/23/05 at 05:22 PM

#4

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:22pm

As much as I love Betty, can she vocally do the score? LuPone has a legit soprano and wide belt range. I remember reading once that Sondheim had a theory why Betty changed the arrangements of his songs when she recorded them. I thought it was due to the intensity of how he writes the vocal line.

Just a guess...

#5

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:24pm

I heard this same rumor a while back, but I've not heard any official word on it. Not that they'd call and tell me or anything, but I heard some people at DRS talking about going away for a few weeks to do Sweeney with Betty Buckley; it didn't make a lot of sense because, well, where would they have to go? But, yes, I did hear the rumor, that's all I can say.

#6

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:26pm

The show is CAST. It's way past people being in consideration for things. Final callbacks were over a week ago and the contracts are in negotiation. Everyone who was cast has accepted. Neither Cyndi Lauper nor Betty Buckley were cast as Mrs Lovett. The role is finalized with the casting of someone who WILL be playing the role.

#7

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:28pm

It's frustrating to me that people are leaving DRS for a few weeks to do another show and then going back. How about letting some non-working actors have the SWEENEY jobs? It's not like DRS has been running for two years and they need a break. Sheesh.

And there's nothing to say that this discussed Buckley production isn't a completely different one.

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Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

Updated On: 4/23/05 at 05:28 PM

#8

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:34pm

balletgirl, maybe i'm wrong, but it's been sounding like a done deal for some time. I forgot to mention, that I also heard that shuler hensly was in talks to play the title role- maybe i'm way way off in outer space here. i just read this board sometimes, and i thought i'd just put what i'd heard, that's all.

#9

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:56pm

The DRS people that I mentioned actually weren't actors. I think they were musicians if I'm not mistaken.

#10

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:03pm

It hasn't been a done deal for awhile. I work for the company, I know what's going on. Callbacks were the 14th and 15th. The show was cast this week.

Actually, most of the cast is relatively 'unknown'... the only two 'stars' are Sweeney and Mrs Lovett... and one of them isn't really as widely known as the other. One girl is fresh out of UMich. A few have been around but haven't done much in awhile, or just aren't really known. The instrument choices are a little ?!?! for some of the roles, but it looks like a good cast.

#11

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:07pm

This is just in response to whether on not she can sing the part and hit the notes......of course she can, ever listen to Sunset BLVD?

#12

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:18pm

I cant really comment, but I know what BalletGirl85 and BenIdIct (haha, like the Pope, sortof) are talking about. All I can say is that you're both right. So no worries.

#13

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:20pm

I'd like to see Shuler Hensley play Sweeney someday...

#14

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:22pm

I was kind of hoping that Idina would play Mrs. Lovett.

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"Y'all have a GRAND day now"

#15

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:23pm

MTVMann,

Yes, I saw Betty in "Sunset" in London, and in concert several times. She hit all the high notes and possessed an ethereal soprano in "Sunset". When she took the show to NY, she modified notes on "The Perfect Year" taking them down an octave instead of letting that soprano voice ring out.

With age, one's voice loses its range. It's nature. I was only commenting because Betty has lowered a lot of her stuff.

#16

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:31pm

Oh, okay
Still I think she can do it

#17

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:34pm

I was hoping that Imelda Staunton would be cast as Mrs. Lovett, but I realize that's a pipe dream (just like my fantasies of Michele Pawk playing Desiree...)

#18

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:37pm

I really think Betty can pull it off, very very well.

#19

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:49pm

Weren't Imelda and Meryl be considered for the movie version though, and not the stage revival?

#20

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:53pm

I think the Imelda consideration was a rumor. Even with the Oscar nomination, she's probably still not a big enough name.

#21

re: Betty in Sweeney?

Posted: 4/23/05 at 7:07pm

i heard that Cyndi Lauper, Patti LuPone and Bernadette Peters were being considered...

#22

It's all about acting, no? Buckley's comedic edge is missing

Posted: 4/23/05 at 8:32pm

The ultimate challenge of Mrs. Lovett is nailing the character in a fresh, vital way. The music was written for Lansbury -- or early on adjusted for her, anyway, and while wonderful when performed by a great voice (Paige at City Opera, LuPone's concert bravura turn), Mrs. Lovett requires a certain presence, and unique comedic edge.

I doubt Buckely would ever find the range or size -- most of her work is rather humorless, including her Norma, and infamously, and brilliantly, her Margaret White. Though she'd move us to tears in the 2nd act, no doubt.

I'm a fan of hers, but having seen her GYPSY, her CARRIE, and her SUNSET, to name but 3, I don't think her temperament would serve the material.

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"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

Updated On: 4/23/05 at 08:32 PM

#23

It's all about acting, no? Buckley's comedic edge is missing

Posted: 4/23/05 at 8:48pm

Give her a chance she's an actress, maybe she needs a chance to show what she can do

#24

It's all about acting, no? Buckley's comedic edge is missing

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:20pm

Hey, Pope Benedict... try a little priest?

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"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

#25

It's all about acting, no? Buckley's comedic edge is missing

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:38pm

Did you see Triumph of Love? She was a scream. Expert comic timing. I think her work has humor and irony. If you doubt her "size" may you have to stand behind her as she belts one out--your ears will ring for a good hour. That said, I don't see in her the dottiness on Mrs. Lovett but she is a damn good actress--the best among the big names IMHO-and I would definitely like to see her do it.

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Mind is Mantra.