George Hearn was married to Betsy Joslyn?

[PerforMeg]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 8:01pm

Am I the only one who didn't know this? FYI Betsy Joslyn is the psycho Johanna on the Sweeney Todd video recording from the 80s.
She was in the chorus of the original on Broadway.

Just thought it was kinda crazy, but according to the Internet Broadway database they were married for five years.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 8:10pm

Tis true. Actually, I think they were married before "Sweeney" happened to them both. It certainly was a strange marriage--Hearn is practically twice her age (she did, after all, play his daughter).

By the way, Hearn is on like, his FIFTH wife right now. I mean, George, you're awesome, but seriously...

[Doogie]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 8:17pm

Hearn is older than her, but guys... not really TWICE.... Hearn is 71.........Joslyn is 53 now....

[roquat]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 9:14pm

She was extremely psychotic on the "Sweeney" recording, plus she sang the role excruciatingly. I'd love to have seen what Sarah Rice, who has a pure, sweet singing tone, did with the role.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:21am

I know I'm in the minority among "Sweeney" lovers, but I rather liked Betsy Joslyn on the video. She made a rather blandly written character interesting, and sang well, even if she often went sharp. She was also quite beautiful.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:22am

Who HASN'T George Hearn been married to is the real question.

[PerforMeg]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:38am

I know, that was another discovery that surprised me a little from the IBDB. He just has this image of a sweet guy that married his high school sweetheart or something. Guess not.

I know I called Betsy Joslyn psycho in my original post but she is kind of growing on me the more I watch that version. Not her singing, but she has some strong acting moments.

I think it would be weird to have your husband play your father.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:50am

"OH DADDY!"
lol sorry had to. Yeah, gotta love that recording, the cast is filled with awesome personalities. There's no words to describe an experience watching it

Updated On: 4/18/07 at 12:50 AM

[wickedwitchofthechest]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:53am

It would be even weirder to have your husband be your father.

Was Betsy Joslyn the one with the freaky vibrato? I've heard so many Sweeneys, they tend to get jumbled about in my brain.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:55am

Yes and tended to just sound awful at times. However, she made that role something. Psychotic can be used many ways to describe aspects of her performance but I loved her all the same. Sarah rice has a perfect voice for that role I think, but Betsy is so much more enjoyable watching

[pab]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:27am

"but Betsy is so much more enjoyable watching"

Yeah if you like to laugh in all the wrong places.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:32am

Doesn't matter, I still get entertainment, whether intentional or not. It doesn't diminish my appreciation for the piece or even slightly touch my perspective on sondheim

[ShineOn]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:35am

I happen to be friends with Betsy's niece and this said marriage between Hearn and Joslyn is quite the astonishing news to her.

[pab]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:39am

Oh trust me, her performance doesn't diminish my appreciation for the piece and there is nothing that can touch my perspective on Sondheim. However, when she starts to roll those eyes as she reaches for those high notes and then warbles when she gets there, that just about drives me to drink.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:48am

Lol, this dvd performance I first saw in june or may of 2004 and had only watched from parlor songs on to the end. I bought it july of 2004 and when I watched it, there was something about this that drew me in, almost cult-like because of the absolute obscurity of the piece. Yet it had such classic dramatic elements throughout that it was so refreshing to see something so different yet work on a conventional standard. Of course, her performance was just an added bonus. My love for sweeney started here and every performer on that dvd has a special place with me. Her singing is just one of the things that intrigued me further and although many wont call it the best at all, I still find something in it to adore it. I cant even really explain it. I still am entirely taken in each time I hear her "green finch and linnet bird" and just can't describe it.

[fiatlux]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:57am

They were also in A Doll's Life together(very briefly).

I have to say that her interpretation of Johanna was..... distinctive.

[pab]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:59am

LOL. Everyone was in a A Doll's Life "very briefly".

[ShineOn]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:08am

Okay, folks, they were definitely not married.

[fiatlux]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:20am

"Everyone was in a A Doll's Life "very briefly"."

Yes, I suppose that really went without saying

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:42am

Betsy is one of my favorite Madame Thenardiers...Truly!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 6:37am

By the way, Hearn is on like, his FIFTH wife right now. I mean, George, you're awesome, but seriously...

Well, he and his fifth wife (Leslie Simons, whom he met during LA CAGE) have been married for 20+ years. They got together right after Hearn split with Joslyn in 1984 and were married inside of a year. So, obviously, he found a lasting relationship.
Updated On: 10/28/05 at 06:37 AM

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 8:53am

The only time I liked Betsy Joslyn on the Sweeney Todd DVD was in her scene with Sweeney...which was spoken.
That woman absolutely KILLED, and I mean butchered, "Green Finch and Linnett Bird". Johanna is an ingenue with a beautiful first song. To play that song psychotic is off the mark of the character for me. The song is about longing and being isolated and wanting to be happy. It should be played more sad and desperate than clownish.
Besty Joslyn was the one thing on the DVD I did not like at all.
Thank goodness for Sarah Rice.

Updated On: 10/28/05 at 08:53 AM

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 9:07am

Weren't they Torvald and Nora together in A DOLL'S LIFE as well?

[Tenorific2]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 9:42am

In her autobio, they were performing in a show in TN, and she fell in love with the voice, and the man.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:10am

I love Betsy as Johanna! Her voice is quirky (and I am a bit of a singing snob) but it fits Johanna to me. I find her funny and sweet, and I think that Green Finch is supposed to show that she is having a tough time. I LOVE her face when she sings "are you screaming!" Johanna's lyrics in "Kiss Me" show her as a bit of a bubblehead, but she has to have enough balls to shoot Fogg later.

Lauren Molina kind of reminded me of her. Definitely not the pretty and safe Johanna there either...she is terrific!