Les Mis vs. Sweeney — Page 2

Both are outstanding shows and I have seen both shows multiple times. (LES MIZ -8 and SWEENEY -10)

My choice would be SWEENEY.

SWEENEY tells a more offbeat story, one that could come across as a hoary old melodrama, but through exceptionally complex music and incredibly dense lyrics is transformed into a modern parable.

LES MIZ suffers a bit in translation. The lyrics are more simplistic and don't delve as much into character. The music is appropiately lush and stirring and adds much to the mood of the piece.

LES MIZ underscores one's belief in the good in all men. ("To love another person is to see the face of God") SWEENEY forces us to confront the darkness of our souls. ("To seek revenge may lead to hell/But Everyone does it though seldom as well/ as Sweeney..")

I am not a strongly religious person. I find LES MIZ uplifting but respond more to the black humour and intensity of SWEENEY.

Blue Wizard asks if SUNDAY isn't a better show than SWEENEY. Again comparing two different pieces. SWEENEY is more about plot while SUNDAY explores ideas. And while SUNDAY never fails to move me no matter how many times I see it live (4 times now) or on video (too many times to count), SWEENEY gets my vote as the best because of it's sweeping score, devilishly clever lyrics (which communicate story and character so well), and the fact that is does not have to be elaborately staged to work. Whereas SUNDAY requires a full re-creation of the Seurat painting. This is probably why we see fewer productions of SUNDAY.

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Gov! I'm shocked!

"My point is the best works, no matter music, novel or theatre, should not be too dark and depressing. It should be noble and hopeful."


I'm still missing something here. I would hardly say that Fiddler is hopeful...The others are nowhere near uplifting...

I never thought Fiddler as depressing. It is not the tragedy which makes Fiddler great. It is the opitimitism, the appreciation for simple life and the deep love of family which makes it a great show.

There is not a single light in Sweeney. It is too cynical. Sure, Cynic is cool.

SWEENEY TODD is my second favorite musical of all-time (I like A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC slightly more). It is a perfect score that is incredibly beautiful, haunting, gruesome, sharp, and moving. I do enjoy LES MIZ, for the most part (the original London cast recording with Patti LuPone as Fantine is amazing). I don't think that it merited a 16 year run on Broadway. All in all, I'd take SWEENEY any day, no competition.

Yes, they lost their home. Just like almost everyone died in Les Miz. Don Quixote died in La Mancha.

But there is always hope there. Tevye blessed his Chava, Marius and Cossette got bless from heaven, Cervantes faced his judgement with courage. That is called the hope.

In Sweeney, no one is hopeful. Anthony and Johanna maybe , but they almost have nothing to do in the end.

Updated On: 4/3/05 at 01:14 PM

My vote is for Sweeny, Sweeny, Sweeny, SWEEEEEEEENYYYYYYYY!

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So what is Shakespear? People call him the greatest playwright ever. What of Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Richard III, just the whole tragedy canon of his. I mean if you don't like tragedy I don't have a problem with that at all. I mean yes personal taste. But to say that tragedy can't be put in the best of theatrical masterpieces doesn't seem fair or right.

I always thought that SWEENY was better. I've NEVER been able to get into LES MIS.

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LES MIZ is #38 on my list of top 50 musicals. SWEENEY is #2.

Mine:
Les Miz
Man of La Mancha
Fiddler
Gypsy
Camelot
Jesus Christ Superstar
Chess
Sound of Music
The Secret Garden

Updated On: 4/3/05 at 01:49 PM

Sandra, for me the issue wasn't so much Sweeney vs Les miz, it was hopeful verses no hope. I don't take issue with you not liking Sweeney(although it's not written at all to show anyone how smart they are). I take issue with the fact that the end has to be hopeful, even if it's a tragedy. Some endings are tragic in theatre and life. Loosing a one's family and war etc. Now I just think that the best theatre is the opposite. I mean Romeo and juliet is theatre 101. Everyone knows this play and its ending is hardly hopeful. It's the same with Hamlet, who sort of has a Sweeney like anger and wants revenge. I think what your missing in Sweeney is a fable about how one man's revenge destroys him. Sweeney is about revenge. I think it's written the way it is becuase of the way Sondheim's mind works. He finds it easier to write like this, than to write a 32 bar song. He found Merrily rediculously hard to write. He's not saying look how smart I am. He's saying this is how it should be written. This is how it comes out to me. Sondheim's work isn't TRYING to be smart. It just IS.

Updated On: 4/3/05 at 01:54 PM