Honest opinion about Sweeney Todd — Page 3

Sweeney Todd is my favorite, or second favorite after Sunday. It is pure brilliance, and heart-wrenching. Forget the killing people, and putting them into pies, think of why these people are doing it. These characters are so rich, and multi-layered, and the actor can gorge themselves on the depth of the book and the music/lyrics.
It is absolutely a wonderfully chilling, scary, and it never fails to make me cry.

I would like to see another person do Lovette though.
Whoever does it though can never surpass Madame Lansbury. The part was (basically) written for her.
And don't depend on the Hearn/Lansbury DVD for your opinion of Johanna/Anthony, because Johanna is absolutely putrid. Die Betsy Joslyn, die.

Besides that, it's a wonderful show, and should be even more emotionally exciting live.

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I just found out that Patti was playing Lovette and couldn't be happier...! I'm big fans of both Lansbury and LuPone, both in and out of 'Todd', so I find this quite exciting! :0)

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I'm not thrilled with the casting of this revival, but just seeing this material on a Broadway stage is going to be special; I know it.

I wonder why she hasn't tackled the role yet. She and Steve are like, BFF!

I think Peters would be brilliant.

And I personally CAN'T WAIT for this-- including LuPone, who I think made an excellent, much more calculating Lovett in the concert version.

You should get the OCR and listen to it several times before seeing the show. There are so many subtleties in the score that you are still discovering new things the 100th time you listen to it.

As for concerns that this SWEENEY is being done small and not on the epic scale of the original, remember Sondheim conceived it as a small intimate piece. It works well when done large (as in the New York City opera staging) or small (the TEENY TODD revival from 1989.) As long as it is sung and acted with conviction it works.

And you can count me amongst those who consider it a masterpiece. What PORGY AND BESS was for the years 1900-1950, SWEENEY is for 1950 - present.

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Thanks for the quote emcee. And I agree with WonderBoy. Watch out for those whistles. Because even if you are expecting them they can make you jump. Freaks my cats out everytime I play the dvd(but that's only because the sound quality can be bad sometimes and they don't like shrill noises and who can blame them.) So basically don't drink anything before seeing the show because they do that whistle quite a few times. I never pissed my pants, but I certainly do jump.

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It's one of the funniest Broadway musicals ever!

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Updated On: 7/31/05 at 05:10 AM

I really liked the show when I saw it. It's funny and disturbing at the same time! A show that can evoke that mix of emotions to me is quite extraordinary - a truly wonderful theatre experience. However I do NOT agree with the people on here saying that everyone is guarenteed to love it. This is NOT a musical for everyone... I went with acting classes from school and about half had the same reaction as me (loved it) the other half were thoroughly disturbed/grossed out and hated it. However, if you think you can handle that kind of musical, I'd say go for it! I'm not guarenteeing that you'll like it though...

And since someone mentioned the whistles...call me crazy but I didn't even notice the whistles until intermission when everyone was talking about how creepy they were - I must have selective hearing or something.

Calvin--
When was Judge Turpin's "Johanna" taken out? And why? I think it's pivotal to the plot. Sure, Judge Turpin is repulsive and no one thinks Johanna should marry him, but, without that song, I feel like that wouldn't be as clear. I think it's the creepiest song out of the whole show.

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The Judge's Johanna was taken out for the original tour, likely because it was too disturbing.

Patti is a great talent, has proven that time and again, and I have no doubt that she'll be brilliant. I doubt she would've been cast otherwise. The Lincoln Center concert was really very good, except her accent.

And I really love Betsy Joslyn...her soprano is very quirky as is her interp. of Johanna...she is not the boring ingenue many Johannas were that I've seen. "Kiss Me" is a comedic number...it is Chris Groenendaal that bores me.

While I may agree that Sweeney Todd may not be for everyone, I definitely believe that if you are serious about theater, you need to see and explore this. It is one of the most perfectly constructed musicals/operas of all time.

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Judge Turpin's "Johanna" is NOT on the DVD.

I hope that if the Sweeney movie does get made, it will be included. I feel its really vital to the character.

On the subject of "honest opinion" about Sweeney Todd- it's AWESOME. Definately one of the best musicals ever written. Definately. If I were you, I would absolutely go see it.

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