Is it just me . . .

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:32pm

Or is Lauren Molina REALLY GOOD as Johanna in Sweeney Todd? I mean, she is the only person I've ever seen play the role and actually make some sort of impression. Usually Johanna enters and you think "Oh, she's pretty" and then she sings Green Finch and Linnet Bird and you think "Hm, nice high note" and then that's it.

Maybe it's just the way this production is staged that makes her stand out more, but hers was one of my favorite performances in the show and I was really impressed with what she was able to bring to the role. And I hope she's remembered come awards season.

So am I crazy or did anyone else think she was awesome?

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:41pm

I adored her as Johanna. She actually seemed to add some emotional depth to a part that is usually played as a simple damsel in distress. I thought that she was fabulous!

[YessicaB]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:46pm

I also thought she was fabulous.

[MoonOnAstring]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:51pm

It was the first time I really cared about and understood Johanna. Lauren was wonderful.

Updated On: 11/15/05 at 06:51 PM

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 7:00pm

Lauren was quite wonderful, definitely. The only thing, though, is that I think (I may be wrong) that Johanna is supposed to be more of a comedic character. Not altogether goofy, but less dark than Molina played her.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 7:03pm

I love that Joanna was dark in this production. I was able to understand the obsession that the Judge and Anthony both have with her so much more because Molina had so much presence.

Her acting and passion was also the thing that really clinched my love of the instruments on stage. I thought it added tremendously to her character.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 7:17pm

Before this she was a mere figure of affection for the 3 males, but now WOW she just totally became a full character that makes you understand her feelings and get insight into why other feel the way they do about her. She plays her up so much more than others have without coming off as an idiot. She sounded beautiful, couldp lay well, and made sense of the character. And as somebody reviewed earlier, she made fully clear some of the most unintelligible lyrics Sondheim ever created. Like I ACTUALLY heard every word she spoke and just gave the character meaning to me for the first time