Groban & Ashford in SWEENEY TODD On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 32

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 3/9/23 at 11:29pm

I saw the show tonight-thought it was very good but not very exciting. I love Sweeney so I have a lot of thoughts just going into it which probably color my opinions. I thought Josh was quite excellent-singing was brilliant obviously but I thought his acting and descent was very good too. Annaleigh I had moments where I thought she was hilarious but other moments where I felt like she lacked the commanding presence I want in a Lovett. The pairing was very sexy which I enjoyed but I think I prefer a more mature pairing which surprised me.

Gaten and Ruthie both are giving fantastic performances and deserve lots of recognition. I wonder has there been other productions where Toby receives such high billing? I thought Johanna is giving a lovely performance. Jordan isn’t BAD but also they have Josh Groban as Sweeney and cast a thin pop voice to sing one of Sondheims most beautiful songs…

In act one I had a lot of problems with the set. I didn’t like the backdrop at all, honestly would’ve preferred a brick wall. The overall structure did very little for me in act one. I don’t need lots of movement or pizazz but I didn’t find it satisfying or dynamic to look at. Act 2 they use the set much more effectively snd I wonder if they could’ve incorporated that in act 1. 

Also I don’t get the choice to have Lovett in blue for act 2.

i did not have sound issues, my only sight line problem was sitting behind a taller guy.

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 12:22am

bwayobsessed said: "Also I don’t get the choice to have Lovett in blue for act 2."

I have a theory…

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I think Lovett has a sick obsession with emulating Lucy/Beggar Woman to allure Sweeney. In the pantomime in Poor Thing, the character is in royal blue. So of course when Lovett comes into money, that’s what she buys. 

I have a lot of thoughts but at the same time feel like this production was fine. It’s not the slam dunk I think a lot of people thought it would be. The choreography often took me completely out of it. It’s wrought. It says to me the creatives don’t trust the text to speak for itself and of all shows, THIS show is strong enough without. That said, at times it worked. 

Josh to me was especially strong. Annaleigh did her schtick well. Gaten will be nominated 100% and has a shot at winning I’d say. Ruthie was excellent, but the optional lullaby  not being included muddied the discovery of who she was I thought. Jordan, it’s not his fault but is painfully miscast. Not everyone can do everything and that’s ok. But thank GOD that orchestra was there for Johanna because on vocals alone he left much to be desired.

The design elements baffle me. Natasha Katz is the best in the biz, but I do not understand some of the technicolor choices. The set is functional if not a bit ugly. Agree with the comment about the backdrop. At times it looked like a dirty cyc in the arch. 

They HAVE GOT to fix the Beadles death because honey…

All in all, this production has a lot to like, but at the end of the day is safe with some really weird choices. I would like to see it again later in the run for sure. 

Updated On: 3/10/23 at 12:22 AM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 6:02am

Not trying to knock him at all and I thought Gaten did a nice job, but don't most Tobys?  Manoel Felciano in the last revival was more compelling to me, but then his perspective was part of the framing.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 9:27am

I don’t get how Jordan can sing Evan Hansen but not this?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 10:46am

I mean I guess the difference is that DEH is a pop oriented score. Sweneey is a traditional (at times operatic) score, he may not be used to singing in this style. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:08am

RippedMan said: "I don’t get how Jordan can sing Evan Hansen but not this?"

There is a distinct difference in technique for these two scores. That's how. It's not just about range, it's about style and he sticks out like a sore thumb every time. He's helped by the fact Anthony/Johanna have some of the most gorgeous songs Sondheim ever wrote and the orchestrations just elevate Johanna and Kiss Me/Ah, Miss/Ladies and Their Sensitivities to a transcendent place. So he has crutches to lean on that cover some of his shortcomings. I would hate to think what his performance would be without a full orchestration under him. 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 4:03pm

It's going to be pretty interesting once the show opens and reviews start showing up. I'm still very excited to see this eventually, honestly between this and Camelot, it's going to be hard for me to choose between them.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 5:50pm

I would expect better than Music Man but not by much.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 6:00pm

There is a distinct difference in technique for these two scores. That's how.

Exactly. Jordan was excellent in both Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen, both contemporary scores. This is his first traditional score he's singing, and it just doesn't work. But he won't stay super long, Hollywood/fashion/gamer worlds are waiting. He is used to being one of the best so it must mess with his mind being a weak link in the cast. I hope he improves before departing though. 

Someone recently just said this "show is good but not exciting". 100%

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 6:06pm

Yes. Good but not exciting is exactly right. 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 6:37pm

OhHiii said: "Yes. Good but not exciting is exactly right."

Same and I really wanted to be excited… 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

the one thing that did excite me was the crane. From where I wash sitting I couldn’t tell what it was in act one-it moving made act 2 way better for me 

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 7:12pm

OhHiii said: "RippedMan said: "I don’t get how Jordan can sing Evan Hansen but not this?"

There is a distinct difference in technique for these two scores. That's how. It's not just about range, it's about style and he sticks out like a sore thumb every time. He's helped by the fact Anthony/Johanna have some of the most gorgeous songs Sondheim ever wrote and the orchestrations just elevate Johanna and Kiss Me/Ah, Miss/Ladies and Their Sensitivities to a transcendent place. So he has crutches to lean on that cover some of his shortcomings. I would hate to think what his performance would be without a full orchestration under him."

But that's the thing that irks me is that the creatives did hear that. They heard him with just a piano and still cast him. Just boggles the mind. I understand it's different techniques, but he clearly has the range if he can do DEH, so it's interesting to read people thought he was struggling with the notes. But belting it out and sustaining a sweet sound are two totally different things. I'm just surprised is all. (Again, there are a TON that can do both)

[schubox]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:10pm

RippedMan said: "OhHiii said: "RippedMan said: "I don’t get how Jordan can sing Evan Hansen but not this?"

There is a distinct difference in technique for these two scores. That's how. It's not just about range, it's about style and he sticks out like a sore thumb every time. He's helped by the fact Anthony/Johanna have some of the most gorgeous songs Sondheim ever wrote and the orchestrations just elevate Johanna and Kiss Me/Ah, Miss/Ladies and Their Sensitivities to a transcendent place. So he has crutches to lean on that cover some of his shortcomings. I would hate to think what his performance would be without a full orchestration under him."

But that's the thing that irks me is that the creatives did hear that. They heard him with just a piano and still cast him. Just boggles the mind. I understand it's different techniques, but he clearly has the range if he can do DEH, so it's interesting to read people thought he was struggling with the notes. But belting it out and sustaining a sweet sound are two totally different things. I'm just surprised is all. (Again, there are a TON that can do both)"

I saw it last night and thought he was fine. I told my wife that he was catching a lot of flack online and she was surprised to hear it because she thought he sounded good too

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:40pm

Getting in from tonight’s show, just now. Very happy to st say Jordan has greatly improved since that first preview I saw.  
 

The addition of the blood in act two is great but I’m going to be greedy and say it still needs to be more. Also they need to fix Ruthie’s blood because she just quickly (and obviously) smears it on her neck and for me, it doesn’t read well.

 

And I thought the whistle was back so was a bit disappointed when I didn’t hear it

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/10/23 at 11:46pm

ljay889 said: "I'd imagine a formal curtain call is still to come."

This looks to be a mess of a curtain call but it was from the 1st preview. Anyone seen it recently and have any changes been made?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSJkzRKR_2k

[schubox]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 1:01am

Robbie2 said: "ljay889 said: "I'd imagine a formal curtain call is still to come."

This looks to be a mess of a curtain call but it was from the 1st preview. Anyone seen it recently and have any changes been made?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSJkzRKR_2k"

Pretty sure it’s different. Think they have the ensemble then the other parts for out separately. I saw it last night but shows are blurring together 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 1:42am

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 1:42am

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 7:24am

Jordan Catalano said: "Getting in from tonight’s show, just now. Very happy to st say Jordan has greatly improved since that first preview I saw "

Any other significant changes? Improvements/changes to sound, lighting, pacing?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 7:31am

Totally forgot to mention the lighting - it has changed and is no longer as dark as it was. It looks great and you can actually see certain things that I felt were almost totally hidden in darkness before.

Sound still felt a little unbalanced to me with Ashford. I now think a lot of it really is just her characterization and speaking VERY soft and low at times. It’s a tough thing to do in a house as deep as the Lunt. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 10:17am

Jordan Catalano said: "Sound still felt a little unbalanced to me with Ashford. I now think a lot of it really is just her characterization and speaking VERY soft and low at times. It’s a tough thing to do in a house as deep as the Lunt."

I think it’s a product of she’s been primarily doing television for a while and her choices sometimes feel very close for what is a very broad role and large scale show. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 11:25am

The blue dress strikes me as lacking the garish nouveau riche component -- almost too tasteful for this bougie-ascending woman with delusions of a comfortable middle-class-ish life at last. One can guess that a decision was made to create a more pragmatic, ever-sensible Lovett. I'm wondering how its relative plainness reads in such a large house. Lansbury's act 2 drag was brilliantly outre.   

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 1:02pm

Okay, maybe I'm too sophisticated for my own good, but how the hell do you enter this show in the Year of Your Lord 2023 not knowing it involves cannibalism and murder? Like, it's an incredible throwback to some of the baffled reviews in 1979, but still.

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 1:10pm

I like the way they’ve included nods to Sweeney’s iconic costumes of the past: the sweater and suspenders of the original production, and the vest and cravat from the film, without completely recreating either.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/11/23 at 1:52pm

Also, I believe Ashford’s “Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir/Contest” costume was a nod to Lansbury’s.