Groban & Ashford in SWEENEY TODD On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread — Page 55

Yes, I just checked it out. Hal Prince says to Aron, "It's a big bore to me in America, and that's why I'm cutting it." 

jimmycurry01 said: "Smaxie said: ">Very interesting, as Sondheim insinuates that both the tooth-pulling sequence and The Judge's Johanna were cut during previews after he and Wheeler noticed a "sag" in the plot. He writes about this decision in Finishing the Hat and makes it sound as if the decision to cut both happened simultaneously. It seems odd to have made the cut after the show was frozen.<

Sondheim's memory does get unreliable in some spots. The Judge's "Johanna" was cut very early in previews, I think perhaps even after the first preview. In an evening of shocks, the Judge whipping himself to an orgasm was perhaps a step too far. However, the tooth-pulling scene remained in. If you search, there is a YouTube video of the original Broadway production. Victor Garber was the first of the principals to leave the cast and he was replaced by Cris Groenendaal. Groenendaal is in this video (either as understudy or permanent replacement, opposite understudy/eventual Johanna replacement Betsy Joslyn), and the tooth-pulling scene is in, so it had to have been filmed sometime after opening. There is also a full audio of opening night, and the tooth-pulling scene is in."

Last night I was watching the South Bank Show documentary on the making of the London production which opened within a year of the Broadway production; there was a argument between Hal Prince and John Aron in regards to cutting some of Pirelli's material. I wonder if the choice was made to make the cut during rehearsals for the London run.

"

Yup! this is basically the case. Neither the original broadway or London productions included the full version of "the Contest" but they were different cuts. The Broadway version cut both of Pirelli's opening verses ("Now signorini, Signore" etc), but retained both of the Shaving and Tooth pulling sequences. ("to shave-a the face...etc". The British production cut the song down further, removing the whole Tooth-pulling sequence, but restoring the introductory verse to the Shaving sequence, and that is basically how the song has remained since.

 

John Aron's intense argument over the cut is one of my favorite things to have ever been caught on camera, especially Hal's little shrug that boils down to "who does this guy think he is?"

Don't think so. When Groban leaves, it's closing time.

Broadway Flash said: "My friend in the pit is under the impression that it's an open ended run. Do you think they will replace Groban and Ashford?"

 

Could Mandy Patinkin perhaps try to replace Groban successfully this time? Paired with Bernadette, that'd be the dream!

binau said: "Could Mandy Patinkin perhaps try to replace Groban successfully this time? Paired with Bernadette, that'd be the dream!"

I admire your devotion, but this casting only would occur at this point in a drug-induced fever dream.

jimmycurry01 said: "Smaxie said: ">Very interesting, as Sondheim insinuates that both the tooth-pulling sequence and The Judge's Johanna were cut during previews after he and Wheeler noticed a "sag" in the plot. He writes about this decision in Finishing the Hat and makes it sound as if the decision to cut both happened simultaneously. It seems odd to have made the cut after the show was frozen.<

Sondheim's memory does get unreliable in some spots. The Judge's "Johanna" was cut very early in previews, I think perhaps even after the first preview. In an evening of shocks, the Judge whipping himself to an orgasm was perhaps a step too far. However, the tooth-pulling scene remained in. If you search, there is a YouTube video of the original Broadway production. Victor Garber was the first of the principals to leave the cast and he was replaced by Cris Groenendaal. Groenendaal is in this video (either as understudy or permanent replacement, opposite understudy/eventual Johanna replacement Betsy Joslyn), and the tooth-pulling scene is in, so it had to have been filmed sometime after opening. There is also a full audio of opening night, and the tooth-pulling scene is in."

Last night I was watching the South Bank Show documentary on the making of the London production which opened within a year of the Broadway production; there was a argument between Hal Prince and John Aron in regards to cutting some of Pirelli's material. I wonder if the choice was made to make the cut during rehearsals for the London run.

"

One of the many things I hated about the original production.

 

 

Someone on the UK board says Jake Gyllenhaal is being sought to take over for Josh for 5 months. Anyone else hear this rumor?

He impressed me a great deal in Sunday, but this is a different vocal challenge.  Thoughts?

I've seen this revival three times now - twice with Groban and Ashford and once with Nicholas Christopher and Jeanna De Waal. I have no need or desire to see it again unless an exciting replacement cast comes in. Gyllenhaal would have me back in a heartbeat.

I would be SHOCKED if Jake played Sweeney. Would he really want to be a replacement and follow one of the most vocally brilliant Sweeneys? At the final performance of "Sunday" Jake's voice sounded a little under the weather. How could he possibly handle Sweeney? 

Anybody have luck getting same day Saturday tix at the box office lately? I’m hoping being there by 9 is good enough. 

Saw the show today and was really disapointed. I hated the choreography. Josh was great vocally but as many have mentioned, even when he got to the most intense moments, just wan't menacing enough. I love Annaleigh Ashford, but she was doing way too much. She had a good Lovett in her but I think she was failed by the direction. Act 2 was much better for both of them I will say.

At first I thought Maria was a little too frenetic as Joanna but really came around to her by the end. Her voice is amazing. Ruthie, Gaten and the actors who played Pirelli and Antony were great too. 

 

 

 

Is Josh out this week?