Groban & Ashford in SWEENEY TODD On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 22

What was the approximate run time? (I'd heard the show started late/intermission ran long)

For sure. Just saying to your point: she might have won awards and grants doesn’t mean she can’t make a mistake or be misguided. And simply going off what others have said.


It’s that, given the prestige of this show and knowing it’ll prob do gangbusters business, we are just feeling let down that the production isn’t bigger in the design elements. Same with the recent Music Man. I happen to love a lavish scenic design and when it’s paired with terrific acting, singing, direction can be transcendent. Like the recent Fun Home. When the daughter walked into the home and the entire home rose from the stage, with the underscoring, *chefs kiss*

FANtomFollies said: "Simple and/or minimal set designs can still be beautiful and effective. I don't see the show until April, but this set looks beautifully dark and evocative. I said this in a previous post, but I LOVE how the orchestra pit wall is a designed piece of scenery that is made of a grate that allows the audience to see the large orchestra.

"

Cool photo! I also love the grated railing for the orchestra pit. I believe the most recent revival of ON THE TOWN at The Lyric (which also had a huge orchestra) used a railing around the orchestra pit instead of just a wall.

Judging from the photos, the set is fairly reminiscent of the one used for the original production.

RippedMan said: "Totally agreed! Minimal can be gorgeous! I think I’m more offended that the pie shop is just … that… and it’s rolled on by actors…

But the actual set is gorgeous it’s just all the little things that I think cheapened the overall design for me. Similar to the recent Fiddler that had crew dressed in costume to move scenery . Not great."

“Offended”? The original pie shop was THE EXACT SAME CONCEPT.

I really can’t roll my eyes hard enough.

Updated On: 2/28/23 at 04:48 PM

@elephantseye I was not pointing at anyone in particular but at everyone focused on merch etc. I had not connected your earlier posts in this thread and your point is well taken. I did notice your smart post downstream, and I enjoyed reading it.

@Matt Rogers Your blind attack on the set seems to be a veiled attack on ticket prices. As others have said, the ticket price does not correlate to the set cost (or any other individual element) [just as one does not correlate the value of a da Vinci painting to the cost of canvas and paint]. You are not entitled to your expectation. Your comment about merch is a non-sequitur. (For the record, I realize that producers want to sell anything by which to make (more) money, and I realize the customers for these things want to buy it, but I feel it is at the expense of the vast majority of the audience and if I were in charge, I would banish both merch and bars.) Regarding drunks, your laughable comment has already been debunked so I got nothing else for ya.

"Absolutely staggered that people are going to this expecting a huge automated set."

I think since we've seen many a production of Sweeney with little or no set, folks were hoping a big and very expensive revival would be the first opportunity since the original production to see a large and epic Fleet Street.

I don't think a large set is required or necessary, regardless of the price point, but I understand how someone could be disappointed given the context.

Um theres a wonderful film made of the original Broadway production and it's very minimalist. Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett are not rich people. Why would you guys expect an extravagant set? You want extravagant sets, go to POTO.

I see this in April. Can't wait.

ColorTheHours048 said: "RippedMan said: "Totally agreed! Minimal can be gorgeous! I think I’m more offended that the pie shop is just … that… and it’s rolled on by actors…

But the actual set is gorgeous it’s just all the little things that I think cheapened the overall design for me. Similar to the recent Fiddler that had crew dressed in costume to move scenery . Not great."

“Offended”? The original pie shop was THE EXACT SAME CONCEPT.

I really can’t roll my eyes hard enough."

Yes, in the 70s. Different times, different expectations.


Sorry the recent Angels really spoiled me with stagecraft.

poisonivy2 said: "Um theres a wonderful film made of the original Broadway production and it's very minimalist. Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett are not rich people. Why would you guys expect an extravagant set? You want extravagant sets, go to POTO.

I see this in April. Can't wait."

I love that people think the original production had a minimalist set. They brought over an entire foundry from England, you know. It was a great set that did many things, but unfortunately the "film" as you call it was made in LA where the tour was a shadow of what that set had been on B'way, so let's not act like that represented the amazing set on B'way.

KJisgroovy said: ""Absolutely staggered that people are going to this expecting a huge automated set."

I think since we've seen many a production of Sweeney with little or no set, folks were hoping a big and very expensive revival would be the first opportunity since the original production to see a large and epic Fleet Street.

I don't think a large set is required or necessary, regardless of the price point, but I understand how someone could be disappointed given the context."

KJ says my thoughts perfectly.

Maybe we've just been spoiled by the recent Company that was just so beautifully designed and directed. And I thought with this cast we'll get something even better. Curious to hear the changing and if it'll at least be bloodier.

“Sorry the recent Angels really spoiled me with stagecraft.”



oof, we have different memories of that set. I loved the production/direction and much of the set but that turntable set in part 1 looked like it was going to topple over.

HogansHero said: "(For the record, I realize that producers want to sell anything by which to make (more) money, and I realize the customers for these things want to buy it, but I feel it is at the expense of the vast majority of the audience and if I were in charge, I would banish both merch and bars.)

Whoa! No merch? That is a bridge too far!

But it should be set up where lines don't cause too much congestion.

Restroom lines at intermission are bad enough.

I do think that the last few times I was at the St James for Frozen & Into the Woods, and at the three times I was at the Hirschfeld for Moulin Rouge the ushers directed the restroom lines admirably. Hospitality seems to be something Jujamcyn excels at in their theaters.

Perhaps the Nederlanders could take a lesson?

Updated On: 2/28/23 at 10:35 PM