Cariou or Hearn for Sweeney?

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 5/10/04 at 9:47pm

I recently bought the new "Sweeney Todd" DVD, having never seen it. I loved it and was blown away by George Hearn. IMO, the cast was flawless. I, very excited, bought the CD, but was greatly disapointed by Len Cariou interpretation of the role. He reads very bland on the CD. I was most disapointed with "Epiphany." Hearn's version is so intense, while Cariou's is less than thrilling. The tempos seem a lot slower on the CD which causes the music to lose some effect. It's still an awesome score, but I feel like it's missing something. I also preferred Sara Woods' Beggar Woman to Merle Louise's. Louise seems too proper for the role. I like Calvin Remsberg and Betsy Joslyn better as the Beadle and Johanna, respectively.

While I can deal with the other people being a tad lackluster, Cariou just doesn't pull you in. Without an interesting central character, the show can really fall flat. On the numbers without him, the score sores, but Sweeney fells lathargic. I haven't seen Cariou live, so I can't fully judge. But, what do you think? Hearn or Cariou?

[Plum]

Posted: 5/10/04 at 9:58pm

Maybe it's because I listened to Cariou first, but I liked his singing of the role better. He and Hearn were both excellent, though, so I won't argue with you there. However...

You seriously like Betsy Joslyn better than Sarah Rice as Johanna? Seriously? Joslyn was unbelievably shrill in Green Finch and Linnet Bird. I realize she was supposed to sound bird-like, but she was practically shrieking. Rice's rendition of that song is much better- her voice is lovely.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/10/04 at 10:08pm

I only got to see Hearn on stage (and thought both he and Lansbury were brilliant), but those I know who saw both tend to rate Cariou higher, saying he brought more nuance and dimension to the role.

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 5/10/04 at 10:34pm

I think the difference is as follows:

--Cariou was more of a SINGER
--Hearn was more of an ACTOR/SINGER

i like Hearn muchhh better.

-d.b.j-

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 5/10/04 at 10:42pm

I adore both men in the role. Cariou won the Tony, Hearn won an Emmy. Both are in excellent voice and provide exciting differences. I love it when that happens.

I have seen the Hearn VHS (now DVD) many times and listened for years to the Cariou CD. My analysis - Hearn's rage and anger are more explosive, more frenetic and crazed, like the character is losing control. Cariou sounds darkly intense, brooding, diabolical, building to his wrath.

[twogaab2]

Posted: 5/11/04 at 9:47am

Hate to disagree with anyone but having see both Cariou and Hearn both several times, I see Cariou as the superior actor and Hearn as the more constistant singer.

Evidance of this the fact that Cariou essentially blew his singing voice out in this role (lack of consistant technique) however he brought much more depth (levels) to the role than Hearn (who I belive is still capable of singing the role very well). And to do him credit I still like what Hean does with the role dramatically although it is no where near what Cariou did with it.

That's just my opinion, I may be wrong.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 5/11/04 at 7:05pm

Well, I agree that Sarah Rice is a much better singer, but for some reason, Betsy Joslyn seemed more real to me and brought a lot of emotion during the song. Rice is beautiful, but Joslyn's is believable... if that makes sense.

I see the difference in the two performances of Sweeney, but I prefer Hearn's maddening, intense, angry Todd. I'd be interested in seeing Cariou's more calculating and patient performance.

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 5/11/04 at 7:10pm

I don't remember who is who, i apologize, but i like the CD joanna better. Her voice is just more beautiful. Right. i know thats not the post, but i'm just going w/ the flow...

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 5/11/04 at 8:50pm

Hearn is the epitome of Sweeney to me. He is the only one I can imagine in the role. Love him!

[magruder]

Posted: 5/11/04 at 9:53pm

Saw both, and its Cariou all the way.

Consider all of the things that Sondheim tells you about the character in the lyrics of the opening number: he ponders and plans like a perfect machine, he's smooth and subtle, quick and quiet.

Cariou played the role like a man who was in jail for 15 years and has methodically plotted out his revenge. He was quietly brooding throughout Act One, until "Epiphany," where, when losing his opportunity to kill the judge, he completely exploded and the effect in the theatre was galvanizing.

Hearn, by contrast, always struck me as over the edge from the very beginning, and too screamy, with less nuance - though he has always sung the score well. It's a way to go with the character, to play him unhinged from his arrival in London, but Cariou seemed more like an ordinary man, driven to homicidal rage by injustice done to him. Cariou truly broke your heart and struck me as a more sympathetic, troubled and tragic character.

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 5/11/04 at 10:10pm

I always thought that Cariou was the lesser singer of the two, even being flat in parts of the recording, particularly in A Little Priest, but Sondheim has always had an affinity for actors who could sing, rather than the other way around. I'm just glad Lansbury's performance was filmed.