#1
Posted: 10/3/05 at 7:18pm
I attended the dress rehearsal this afternoon, and I could not be more glad that I did.
To be honest, it took me around 15 minutes to really take in what I was seeing - the minimal set, the instruments on stage, and just the entire concept was very bizzare to me at first. After those first few awkward thoughts, the show really took over my mind and I was on the edge of my seat nearly the entire show.
The fact that all of the performers are on stage the entire time really adds a whole other dimension to the show - I can't really explain it well, and I certainly don't want to give anything away - but it's breathtaking.
In general, I'm not going to tell you how they do things and how they end the show - but I promise you that it will leave you breathless. I have never seen a show before that has left me breathless (and speechless) afterwards.
The ending (and very beginning, for that matter) is probably the most chilling and horrifying thing I have ever seen on stage - including the original SWEENEY, and other productions I have seen of it. Here, Doyle added an entirely different, brilliant twist to the story. If you wish to know what it is, PM me and I'll be happy to discuss it.
Michael Cerveris is absolutely brilliant, and I'm predicting now that he'll win the Tony for his performance. LuPone is brilliant as well - I was surprised at how well she blended into the show. She let the score, the story, and the words speak for themselves and was never once preoccupied with the fact that she was a theatre legend telling this story. The supporting cast is just sensational as well - there isn't one weak link in the cast, and there isn't one weak link in the entire production.
Despite the minimalist approach to the show (and to the score,) nothing suffers here. In fact, the show breathes and just completely unfolds in ways that I never thought possible. After such a brilliant and unforgettable original production, it seemed like an impossible task to effectively revive SWEENEY - but they've done it - MY GOD they have done it. Brilliant staging - just absolutely brilliant. Every moment is glorious - not even the scenes - the cast members milling about the stage in the dark during a scene, the "scene changes" - everythign about the staging, design, and conception of this production is hardcore brilliant.
I give it my HIGHEST recommendation to all of you. I wouldn't be surprised if this show won Best revival, direction, lighting, actor, actress, orchestrations, or even set design - it's so brilliant that I can't imagine anythign else surpassing it this season.
To be honest, it took me around 15 minutes to really take in what I was seeing - the minimal set, the instruments on stage, and just the entire concept was very bizzare to me at first. After those first few awkward thoughts, the show really took over my mind and I was on the edge of my seat nearly the entire show.
The fact that all of the performers are on stage the entire time really adds a whole other dimension to the show - I can't really explain it well, and I certainly don't want to give anything away - but it's breathtaking.
In general, I'm not going to tell you how they do things and how they end the show - but I promise you that it will leave you breathless. I have never seen a show before that has left me breathless (and speechless) afterwards.
The ending (and very beginning, for that matter) is probably the most chilling and horrifying thing I have ever seen on stage - including the original SWEENEY, and other productions I have seen of it. Here, Doyle added an entirely different, brilliant twist to the story. If you wish to know what it is, PM me and I'll be happy to discuss it.
Michael Cerveris is absolutely brilliant, and I'm predicting now that he'll win the Tony for his performance. LuPone is brilliant as well - I was surprised at how well she blended into the show. She let the score, the story, and the words speak for themselves and was never once preoccupied with the fact that she was a theatre legend telling this story. The supporting cast is just sensational as well - there isn't one weak link in the cast, and there isn't one weak link in the entire production.
Despite the minimalist approach to the show (and to the score,) nothing suffers here. In fact, the show breathes and just completely unfolds in ways that I never thought possible. After such a brilliant and unforgettable original production, it seemed like an impossible task to effectively revive SWEENEY - but they've done it - MY GOD they have done it. Brilliant staging - just absolutely brilliant. Every moment is glorious - not even the scenes - the cast members milling about the stage in the dark during a scene, the "scene changes" - everythign about the staging, design, and conception of this production is hardcore brilliant.
I give it my HIGHEST recommendation to all of you. I wouldn't be surprised if this show won Best revival, direction, lighting, actor, actress, orchestrations, or even set design - it's so brilliant that I can't imagine anythign else surpassing it this season.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
