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Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd — Page 3

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#51

Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd

Posted: 10/10/13 at 10:10pm

So would this mean that the recent London revival that got all the rave reviews is not coming in?

Since Imelda Staunton has said she doesn't really want to do anything that takes her away from her family for very long, was that ever really a possibility?
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad
#62

Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd

Posted: 12/12/13 at 8:19pm

"Even if she had done the movie, Tim Burton would have directed all the joy out of it. Even HBP said she wanted to approach the character differently and she was directed not to do so."

Thank you for the info, Wildcard. I'm still scratching my head over why Bonham Carter was sedated before each shot.
#63

Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd

Posted: 12/12/13 at 10:12pm

HBC's Lovett plays into a common Tim Burton trope- the attractive middle-aged female who uses a chipper iciness to mask her psychotic tendencies. He's been doing it ever since Catherine O'Hara played Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice, and most of his movies contain one. Next time you watch his Sweeney Todd, you'll see more than a touch of Catherine O'Hara in HBC's performance.
#65

Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd

Posted: 12/13/13 at 1:14am

And doesn't Sondheim love Burtin's film? It's remarks like that and his blessing of sub-standard Broadway revivals that make me question his taste sometimes.

I might be in NY during this concert and while the thought of Thompson playing Mrs. L is so interesting, I wish she were partnered with anyone but Bryn Terfel. One hopes he won't be as wooden as he was in the Sondheim BBC tribute. Hopefully he takes direction well. At this point, I'd rather get Hearn back. No one sings the score like him.
#67

Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd

Posted: 12/13/13 at 2:08am

I know it was just a concert performance that probably had only a handful of rehearsals, but can you honestly watch the clips of Terfel as Todd and tell me that he isn't practically ignoring his on stage Mrs. L (the talented Maria Friedman in that case) and giving a wooden and at times mannered performance? How long do we think rehearsals will be for the NY Phil concert? 1-3 weeks at most, right? I have little doubt that Terfel can hit the notes and give a technically proficient performance, I just hope that he's someone who will take direction and hopefully improve upon that prior performance.
#70

Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd

Posted: 12/13/13 at 8:19am

Add me to the bottle of pills. I'm not a fan of Terfel's Sweeney. Way too much technique showing when he sings, and not enough acting or raw emotion. Next to Maria Friedman in those clips, an actress/singer, it's even more apparent. Put him next to Emma Thompson, a great actress, and good luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba6U4mZpG6Y
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#71

Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd

Posted: 12/13/13 at 1:16pm

I guess I'm a pill too. I saw his Sweeney in Chicago years ago and I found it basically flat. Plus he used that awful way of speaking lines that a lot of opera singers use that made them laughable. I used to be a Bryn Terfel fan. He did one of the finest Falstaffs I've ever seen. But after watching the hammy way he blustered through the Ring Cycle and hearing how he constantly and purposefully upstages his costars I no longer am. If it gets televised, that's good because I wouldn't pay money to see this.
#72

Emma Thompson to make stage debut as Lovett in the NY Phil's Sweeney Todd

Posted: 12/13/13 at 1:29pm

Oh, that's right! I forgot that he already did a full concert production in Chicago. I just remember that he had to cancel the original production(s) in NY (and/or SF?)

So, he probably has a set performance for this role already. Ugh. I still want to see the lovely and appropriately nutty Emma Thompson. Just hope the presence of an Academy Award winning actress will encourage Mr. T to, you know, actually acknowledge that there are other people on stage with him.

Is Mr. T still based in Europe? I suppose there's always the hope of more Icelandic volcanic ash...

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