Lack of English accents in Sweeney Todd - WTF?- Page 2

[wonkit]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:42pm

It is pretty disrespectful and snarky to assume that Cariou didn't do an accent because he "couldn't." The music is hard enough to sing (and to hear) without complicating the vocal delivery with an accent.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:42pm

If an actor can't do an accent, they shouldn't be an actor. It's one of the basic core elements of becoming another human being. Jesus Christ, I can't believe we're even having this discussion. It is beyond irritating to watch a performer whose accent doesn't correspond to the location of the show. A lot of Sweeney is written in English colloquial phrasing with the use of British words, etc. It should be done in English accents. The 1993 National Theatre production is the finest production seen on either side of the Atlantic, and with good reason. It had two of the finest English actors in the leading roles and a company of English actors.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:45pm

'The music is hard enough to sing (and to hear) without complicating the vocal delivery with an accent.'

Oh please. That's absurd. I've always wondered why both Cariou and Hearn didn't use accents. I imagine it was some conscious choice made for some reason (giving Todd and 'other' feel, perhaps). But having seen Cerveris, Depp and, especially, Michael Ball employ accents in the role, I simply don't want to see a Sweeney anymore that doesn't employ the accent.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:46pm

If I were to speculate wildly, I might say that the correct accents are a large part of the reason why Sondy loves the current West End production.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:46pm

^ Precisely.

The music is hard enough to sing... What rubbish! Yes, because they spoon fed Cariou and said 'well the music is hard enough dear, you don't have to do the accent if you don't want to' Jesus!!!!

Updated On: 8/23/12 at 03:46 PM

[sparrman]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:46pm

Right, but "Sweeney" is about "class", and Mrs. Lovett is a role that's virtually written in Cockney. If she MUST have a type of British accent, then so should everyone else.

I'm not about to suggest that Cariou shouldn't have played the role, if he didn't do an accent because he couldn't. But it's a fair criticism of him.

Look at Gwyneth Paltrow. Her accent in "Shakespeare in Love" is, to my memory at least, perfect. It CAN be done, and more power to her for being able to.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:48pm

And Renee Zellwegger's star turn in Bridget Jones' Diary - an impeccable English accent

Updated On: 8/23/12 at 03:48 PM

[wonkit]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:48pm

Having just seen the SWEENEY production in LONDON, I can tell you that having English accents is not the reason that production is so effective. I am clearly of the school of thought that good theater does not have to be a documentary. I will take Cariou in that role over anyone else, past or present, with or without what passes for an English accent these days.

[sparrman]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:50pm

And Wonkit, how is it "disrespectful" to assume that based on all evidence I'm aware of, Cariou can't do a British accent? I respect the hell out of Dick Van Dyke, and I KNOW he can't!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:50pm

"I usually slip into Yorkshire for some reason"

Nowt wrong wi' that, lad.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:50pm

Jesus Christ, I can't believe we're even having this discussion.

Me too! I believe that anyone who can't do every accent shouldn't be an actor, either!

[wonkit]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:53pm

Because we all know that acting is all vocal tricks, and not at all about creating an insightful human being.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:54pm

Yes...but if Sweeney is about class, then shouldn't the character of Sweeney Todd represent his social standing as well?

I still imagine that it was an explicit choice for Todd not to have an accent in the original production, as neither Cariou nor Hearn employed one.

[sparrman]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:55pm

Yes SonofRobbieJ, I am in agreement with you that Sweeney should have an accent.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 3:57pm

If that's the case, why didn't Denis Quilley, Alun Armstrong and Michael Ball all put on American and/or non-accents for their performances in the title role for the 1980, 1993 and 2011 London productions?

[sparrman]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:00pm

I agree with your point, but what exactly is a "non-accent"? Everyone sounds like they're from somewhere. Cariou sounds American or Canadian. But definitely not British.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:02pm

"but if Sweeney is about class, then shouldn't the character of Sweeney Todd represent his social standing as well?"

I don't think Sweeney is about class - I think it's about injustice and abuse of power. Hal Prince tried to make it about the class system but the piece as written works just as well without Prince's vision.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:03pm

'Because we all know that acting is all vocal tricks, and not at all about creating an insightful human being.'

As an actor, it's expected of me to do some form of a British accent if I'm to do any of the Brit-set Stoppard or Noel Coward (both of which I've done). It's not like it's such a bizarre requirement for the job.

[sparrman]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:04pm

"At the top of the hole sit the privileged few
Making mock of the vermin in the lower zoo"

Sure, injustice and abuse of power, but class is a key part of that.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:11pm

"Angela has an accent, but I think for how long she has been in the U.S. it has become more New England. Perhaps that's why they made her New England for MURDER SHE WROTE."


Is English your second language?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:18pm

Musicaldudepeter, how old are you? I think we need a frame of reference here. You think actors should be able to do any accent to be an actor, you believe that flubbing lines in a preview is unforgivable and you wonder if actors are allowed to have opinions in rehearsal about shaping a performance. And you say Jesus Christ a lot. I'm guessing you're probably about 13?

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:21pm

'I don't think Sweeney is about class'

Though I certainly think there is a strong class component, I agree that the show is not all about class. And one can either honor Sweeney's class by playing the accent, or one can choose to honor Sweeney's otherness by making him sound different from anyone else in the show. Both can be effective. But to suggest that an actor shouldn't be expected to do accent work is just...well...nutty.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:27pm

Phyllis, less of the personal attack please, I'm just having a discussion here

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:30pm

It's not a personal attack, those are the views you've expressed on this board. If you're 13, I'd cut you some slack, but if you're much older, your questions show a profound inability for critical thinking.
Updated On: 8/23/12 at 04:30 PM

[ChiChi]

Posted: 8/23/12 at 4:32pm

I just don't see why it matters. Until reading this thread, I never actually thought of the fact that there haven't been accents until I read this. I guess I was more focused on the music because it's amazing.