Lildogs' Sweeney Review--Sorry, Sueleen...

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:41am

The first time, it was the sharpest whistle I've ever heard; the next time, it was a short intake of breath. Once I was jolted and later I was unnerved. Everything you've heard about John Doyle's SWEENEY TODD is true: brilliant and bland, cold and stirring and for the first time, I can say that all the raves and all the pans are justified. And I wasn't for a moment bored or dissatisfied. To say that this revival of Sondheim's most majestic score takes place in Tobias' fevered mind is a bit of an oversimplification. I think what Doyle has done is take a problem, in his case a lack of funds, and turn it into an artistic and literary opportunity. The institutionalized Toby has cobbled together a fantasy of sorts, peopling his experience with his fellow inmates. It's not merely a flashback or recreation, but his own version of a BWW thread: he casts his story with the denizens of Fogg's Asylum.

In a towering, glowering, and simply amazing performance, Michael Cerveris portrays a permanently damaged father and husband, a street tough who has no doubt lost his child and livelihood, vowing impotent revenge on imaginary enemies. His death rattle is easily the most horrifying and graceful moment in this whisper of a chamber musical. Patti Lupone appears as a brazen and bawdy merry widow with delusions of grandeur, a Havisham with a taste for blood and sequins.

Even more impressive is Lauren Molina as Johanna, perhaps playing a real-life Johanna, she trembles and suffers like the caged birds of which she sings. For the first time, the role didn't seem out of place and extraneous, in fact, she is the object of Anthony's obsession; a once treacly subplot raised to tragic levels thanks to her viola virtuosity and paper-thin resolve. Benjamin Magnuson's Anthony is no longer a romantic ingenue, but a man possessed. He seems foolish and dangerous, and Johanna sees him as a ticket out of jail, regardless of his name or character.

I missed the disturbing sexuality of Judge Turpin, played by the suave Mark Jacoby as a pedophile with panache, the Ted Bundy of the hospital. He came across as the most innocuous of the lot, which he most certainly is not. But therein lies the problem: I am making judgments about characters based on Hal Prince's ideas, not John Doyle's. This production requires the audience to leave preconceptions at the door, which isn't a bad idea in any theatre.

Alexander Gemignani shakes off any notions of nepotism with his deadpan yet mercenary portrayal of Beadle Bamford. It's my suspicion the Beadle is really the head of the asylum, imprisoning the members of Toby's cast, playing the piano with his back to the audience for a good portion of the first act, emerging with a cold, bloodless delivery, but finding some sort of redemption in Parlor Songs with Mrs. Lovett. He gives us a gentle, troubled, almost regretful monster of a man who realizes the havoc he has wreaked up on these poor people. Even he goes a little mad sometimes. Also pulling the strings is Donna Lynne Champlin as the androgynous Pirelli and as a warden in the loony bin, orchestrating and controlling mich of the action--no wonder Toby relates her as his former employer. She comes closest to the Brechtian performance ideal, an emcee who doesn't introduce, but rather pushes buttons (quite literally when she's on the accordion), prods and prevents much of Toby's actions.

The Beggar Woman comes closest to what we have come to expect from Prince's original version. She's the cog in Toby's machine, one of life's losers, caught in an unjust social system and forced into the most tragic role of Ragg's opera, which brings us to the creator of the evening's proceedings. Manoel Feliciano is easily the best actor I've ever seen to tackle the role, bringing the musicality required and the acting chops desired. Never dipping into histrionics or stereotypes, he watches and occasionally participates in his own creation; a petri dish of tortured memories and present hells.

The vocals are as crisp and clean as any musical director could hope for and the staging is simple but conveys the helplessness of these souls striving for the light, but finding the doors locked and the keys long since thrown away. This SWEENEY won't thrill everyone, many will think it bastardizes arguably the greatest score ever written and muddies what is a simple and grandiose story. But the form of musical theatre itself is one of artifice and the suspension of disbelief, and if one is open to give up his beloved images of Angela Lansbury and the soaring, booming legend of Hal Prince's landmark epic, you're likely to find an entirely new show: one that screams not with a bang, but with a whimper.


Updated On: 11/14/05 at 11:41 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:44am

I enjoyed that review. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:51am

Bravo, Lildogs. Marvelously crafted.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:58am

Nice review, lildogs. I'm seeing it Friday. Can't wait!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 11:59am

Great reviews?

So who do we think, of the supporting cast, is going to be singled out for Tony nominations?

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:09pm

I think Lauren Molina, Benjamin Magnuson, and Manoel Feliciano all have GREAT chances for a supporting Tony nomination.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:17pm

Though they may bypass that and give the entire cast the special Tony as they did for the La Boheme rotating leads....

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:24pm

I'd nominate Molina, Feliciano and Gemignani...and Cerveris should just take the Tony home now--Lupone should be nominated and perhaps will win, but I doubt it.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:30pm

As much as I personally loved Gemigani I don't think he will get TONY love.

I think there is a good chance for a special TONY for the whole cast.
Also
Molina, what she does with what has often been a thankless role is without compare. She is captivating and marvelous, and her cello acting makes it even better.
Feliciano, no question.
Cerverais, I haven't seen the show in two weeks and thinking about his performance still makes me shiver.
It is far to early to predict, but they are front runners certainly.
A nomination for LuPone, but all the big Actress roles to come make her a longer shot. Although, I would support her for the win.

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:33pm

You're probably right, smart, and I couldn't agree more with Molina/Johanna. She is the best surprise of the evening. I doubt I'll ever see a better Johanna. She managed to be both very funny and absolutely heartbreaking. She can actually make the viola act with her.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:38pm

Funny, I found Molina rather shrill and pitch-challenged both times I saw her. She plays cello well, though.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/14/05 at 12:46pm

I have always found Joanna shrill and pitch challenged, no matter who played her. I found Molina far more engaging, and less shrill.

I will admit, I far prefer an actor who can act, the singing is very secondary to me.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 12:04pm

Posted mine. I liked Patti much more than you seemed to, lildogs. And Margo--I agree with smartpenguin about Lauren Molina--she was my favorite Joanna ever.

Aren't we all lucky to have such a terrific production to disagree over!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 12:30pm

The video clip on this site doesn't do much to sell me on this production - because it sounds terrible. I did the show with 14 piece orchestra and it had a nice full, rich, and very lush sound. It's kind of hard to listen to with only those few instruments. I'm not sold yet (but then again, as Lildog said - leaving behind preconceptions is important - and that's difficult when you have such an affinity with the show). Maybe some day I'll be able to afford a ticket and be able to enjoy it for myself.

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 10:14pm

Very well written and thoughtful. Nice comparisons with the characters and their instruments. Kudos.

[BroadwayRandy0711]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 4:19am

Great Review!!!! Can not wait to see it in December.

[pab]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 9:23am

I had a chance to see it last night. Brilliant! But more on that sometime later.

Sat in front of Jack O'Brien who was seeing the show for the second time. He loves this production!

Updated On: 11/19/05 at 09:23 AM

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 9:27am

Great review! I'll probably see this in December.