I Miss The SWEENEY Revival

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:34am

With the imminent closing of COMPANY and the new SWEENEY movie coming out, I popped in the recent SWEENEY revival cast recording into my car CD player yesterday and was waxing sentimental.

When it hit me. I really miss that revival. So impeccably staged. So deeply chilling and emotionally gripping. Just a complete package and re-definition of a classic musical.

It was certainly one of the most thought provoking and intellectually stimulating evenings I've ever spent in the theatre.

That revival is sorely missed.

[Producer2]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:47am

They could alternate between Sweeney and Company every night! Michael Cerveris can be Bobby or Sweeney, Patti can be Joanne or Lovett, and the instruments can be the instruments.

[artscallion]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:48am

Agreed! Brilliantly realized.

I find it hard to watch the DVD of the Lansbury tour now without thinking how old fashioned it seems in comparison.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:51am

I never got to see it in the theatre, and I'm still terribly sad because of that. But I still love my cast recording hardcore. I shall have to listen to it next! It's only a shame it's not quite a complete recording...

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 9:59am

There's always the tour. I know it's not going to be "the same" but it's something!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 10:34am

Try seeking out the bootleg DVD of the revival. It's easily available and it's shot amazingly well (almost broadcast quality).

Unfortunately, this is the ONLY archive that's available to the general public, and an excellent one, too since it's the entire show.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 10:37am

"and the instruments can be the instruments."

Haha.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 11:50am

"Try seeking out the bootleg DVD of the revival."

Because you love the theater so much that you want someone other than the rightful owners to profit from the theft of the rights?

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 11:55am

How is that stopping them from profiting? It's not like there's some official DVD we can go buy!

[keen on kean]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 12:02pm

Because it is ILLEGAL? Because the person selling the bootleg doesn't have the right to make money from the efforts of others?

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 12:03pm

Then they need to figure out a way to make money from it themselves.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:26pm

Patti could master that tuba like no other.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:28pm

I miss it, as well. Terribly. There are so many times when I wish I could see it again, just once more. It'll be weird when Company is gone, too.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:31pm

The most amazing night I have ever had in a theatre. I will never forget sitting front row at Sweeney Todd. It was fantastic.

I wish I could see again, but I'm so thankful I even saw it once!

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:38pm

I miss it terribly. Just, the joy, and beauty, and discovery, the intricate melodies in Travis' sublime orchestrations, the joy of savoring Sondheim's genius lyrics.

And Patti's boobs.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:59pm

I don't. As brilliant as Patti LuPone and crew (especially Mano) were, I just didn't feel the whole Doyle-concept-of-instruments-onstage thing. I'm a traditional theatre guy, who enjoys scene changes and dislikes metaphors.

For what it's worth, though, to those who appreciate Doyle's direction, it was probably nothing short of brilliant for them.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 3:20pm

Not to toot=my-own-horn, but as the rains slowly arrive here in South Florida...I'm now watching the SWEENEY TODD John Doyle revival on DVD.

Patti just came on and is doing her "The Worst Pies in London".

This production sucks you in after the first 2 minutes!

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 3:24pm

Not to toot=my-own-horn, but as the rains slowly arrive here in South Florida...I'm now watching the SWEENEY TODD John Doyle revival on DVD.

I didn't know it had been released on DVD. It's not on Amazon.

[MovieDan82]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 4:47pm

How did 'The Pajama Game' win...? Does anyone even talk about that show any more?

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:04pm

I was listening to the recording a couple days ago and wondering the same exact thing. The Pajama Game was fluff. Nicely-executed, well-cast fluff, but fluff nonetheless. The Sweeney revival, IMO, was nothing short of brilliant - an emotional roller-coaster ride.

I miss every aspect of this production... from the wonderful performances by Michael and Patti to the little character tics adopted by every actor (Lauren's twitching, anyone?). I even miss John Arbo.

(PS: Sweeneyboppers forever.) Updated On: 6/17/07 at 05:04 PM

[KQuill]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:20pm

I understand both sides of the bootleg arguement...but when it comes down to it, all that really matters is that you can see a brilliant show that closed, or you can't. Sure it's unethical for bootleggers to profit from other peoples work, but that doesn't change the fact that it's really the only way.

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:25pm

Exaclty, Quill. And I an NOT saying I support, condone, or watch these videos, but it's not taking anything out of the pockets of performers. We're not being provided a way that pays the performers. If we were, i'm sure MANY people on here would gladly pay for a well-shot video that we knew supported the actors!

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:29pm

It's the writers fault if a Bootleg makes them lose business. A person can get a bootleg of a show that they don't have much interest in because it is a low-risk investment. If the writers have done their job and written a good show, then this person will enjoy it and then actually buy a ticket to see it live. It is the writers of The Wedding Singers' fault that I did not enjoy the bootleg and will never never ever be seeing it live. The end. Keen on keen theres something in your ass btw.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:37pm

B3, I think that's faulty logic. That's really the equivalent of buying a crappy bootleg of a movie and deciding whether or not it was worth seeing on the big screen. You saw the show for free when it was readily available (and you're apparently of student age, so at a cheap price) eight nights a week. Whether you would have liked it or not does not come into play, that's the risk you take as a consumer.

Still, with theater it's a gray area. Not everyone can get to NY, and shows don't run forever. If a bootleg of it didn't exist in five years we'd all be crying that we had no way to see it. I own some bootlegs and I'm glad I own them but I hardly ever watch them and I much prefer seeing shows on stage, bad or good.

As for the Sweeney revival... it was okay. I don't begrudge it for happening. I do prefer when the director keeps the instruments in the pit and let's the actors, you know, act, and tell a story. No more instrument shows!

[B3TA07]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:45pm

Your last paragraph lead me to not really care about what you had to say about my faulty theory. (i know it's faulty. But The Wedding Singer still sucks!)

You are, however, pretty studly in that photograph.