London Sweeney: Maria Friedman to Play Mrs. Lovett

[kec]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 5:46pm

opposite Bryn Terfel's Sweeney, per the Sondheim Society.
Sondheim Society News page

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 5:48pm

A great choice for the role.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 5:50pm

A great choice for the role

How so?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 5:51pm

ooh more Sweeney! i hope it gets recorded

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 5:54pm

She's an intense presence, but also very funny, and her voice is perfectly suited for the score.

[kec]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 5:55pm

If I remember correctly, this is an extremely short run.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 5:58pm

I couldn't disagree more. To me, she's miscast. Her Lovett may end up being winning, but Friedman tends to overact when she sings and while she can be funny, I think she doesn't have the kind of broad humor that I'd expect from Lovett. She'll probably fare better in numbers like "By the Sea" and "Wait," but I wouldn't like to sit through her "Worst Pies in London" or "A Little Priest."

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 6:36pm

She seems like the go-to-girl for Broadway to London transfers (ie. Fosca in Passion, Mother in Ragtime).

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 7:20pm

Omg no way!! I looove Maria Friedman, and I looove Sweeney Todd! This is amazing news; I wish I lived in the U.K!

Edit: sorry for sounding like a wicked fangirl, I just really like Maria Friedman. :) Updated On: 5/13/07 at 07:20 PM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 7:22pm

This is thrilling news! I've googled this, and can't find any information...when is this running? I would see it if my tentative college visit falls under the same time as this.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 7:32pm

She's not bad, but, really...it seems like she's the only musical theatre performer in England!

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 7:49pm

I think given a few more years, Ruthie Henshall would make an amazing Mrs. Lovett.

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 9:16pm

AMAZING News! I so wish I could see it!

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 9:33pm

I really really really want to see this because I LOVE Maria Friedman.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 10:05pm

I've loved her since the Joseph movie

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 12:47am

I agree with ray-andallthatjazz86.

I'll add that I'd really surprised if she does anything fresh with the role. I've always thought that her range is limited.

[kec]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 2:19am

ThankstoPhantom, please check the link below. As I thought it is an extremely short run, July 5-7.

Edited to add that apparently tickets are difficult to come by, per a friend who has been trying.

South Bank Centre Sweeney Todd Updated On: 5/14/07 at 02:19 AM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 3:38am

Isn't Maria still abit too young to play the role?? Anyway.. completely miscast to me! I mean... I personally am not a fan of her voice... find it very cold and hollow... I do think she'll make a gd witch in ITW tho!

[JJPeachum2]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 10:17am

She'll be brilliant. Enough said.
I hope to get my hands on a recording of these performances...
Attend the tale...

[Weez]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:45pm

Just thought I'd bump this because I'm excited. Guess who they've got for Judge Turpin!

(My future husband) PHILIP QUAST! If I wasn't excited about this production before, I am now! (And I was VERY excited before, so I think my excitement level has actually shot RIGHT off the chart by this news. ^_^)

From http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108765.html

"Directed by David Freeman, the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler work will play four performances July 5-7. Welsh opera star Bryn Terfel will head the cast in the title role with Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman as the pie-baking Mrs. Lovett. The cast, according to the Southbank Centre's official website, will also include Adrian Thompson as Pirelli, Daniel Evans as Tobias, Steve Elias as The Beadle and Phillip Quast as Judge Turpin.

The production will also feature the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Stephen Barlow, the Maida Vale Singers and the chorus from the Guildford School of Acting."

I'm so going to have to see it more than once. :3

[kec]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:54pm

There are only -- what, four performances? -- Weez... why not see 'em all?

Lucky you...my trip to London isn't until the following week, and there is no way I can "sneak" in an extra trip just for this.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 5:02pm

'Cos I can't get the Thursday off work as well and I'm seeing 'Kismet' Saturday afternoon. Rest assured that if I didn't already have my 'Kismet' ticket, I would see it three times!

[kec]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 5:26pm

I'm seeing Kismet the following week...