My new obsession with Sweeney Todd...

[lovinlovett]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 7:48pm

I have you all to thank for it! I was 35 y.o. and had never even heard of Sweeney Todd until a couple of months ago when I saw it mentioned here and there on this board. I finally thought I'd see what all the fuss was about and ordered one of the dvd's. I thought long and hard on which one to order but finally settled with the Patti Lupone, George Hearn concert from a few years ago. When I first started watching it I really thought I didn't like it. I made through about an hour and and thought "how odd" and then put it away for a couple of weeks before I finally pulled it out again. This time I just kept watching and watching until I decided I just loved it! Now I'm totally obsessed and can't get "A Little Priest" and "Pretty Women" out of my head! I think George Hearn is a genius and Lupone and Hearn together have such amazing chemistry. The entire production is just brilliant. Yesterday I just couldn't stand it and went and bought the original production with Angela Lansbury and I'm thrilled with it as well. Each show is so totally different and I love them both! Though both of Hearn's performances are great I have to say I love seeing him do it as an older man without all the makeup and goofy hair. He just seems so comfortable with it and really lets go. In the special features it said that he wasn't even supposed to perform that night but the original opera singer got sick and they called him in! Wow!

I'd love to hear from other Sweeney fans since there is no one in my life that loves shows the way I do. And every time I try to play Sweeney for my husband he runs screaming..ha!
Updated On: 7/29/05 at 07:48 PM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 8:20pm

Since you liked this, you would love the DVD stage version, starring Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. It was taken on a national tour and is a great performance.

[lovinlovett]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 8:29pm

If you'll look a little further down in my post I actually did purchase this version too, just yesterday! I love it as well. Angela Lansbury is hysterical and I adore the sets and costumes.


Updated On: 7/29/05 at 08:29 PM

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 8:35pm

Welcome to the club! Now take my advice: Be very selective about the Sweeneys you see, especially when you're trying to introduce others to your obsession. I once saw a very bad regional production. Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett were mediocre, Judge Turpin looked about 20 with an awful fake beard plastered to his face and the Beadle was bald (yet they didn't change the "pomade" line).

I'd taken a friend who'd never seen or heard the show, and she was puzzled why I liked it so much. I let her borrow my OBCR, and now she's hooked and will by flying up to visit me and see it in October or November.

[another sloe eyed vamp]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 9:27pm

Also, stay far, far away from the movie 'Jersey Girl'.

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 9:31pm

I was Sweeney mad for years. Saw it three times on Broadway with the original cast, once at Kennedy Center: Angela and George, and with Patti at Avery Fisher Hall.

If I were to hear that Meryl Streep is going to star in the Sam Mendes movie version I'm sure I would become Sweeney mad once more.

Updated On: 7/29/05 at 09:31 PM

[lovinlovett]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 9:50pm

Jersey Girl?? Movie? What's the connection?

Has Bernedette Peters ever played Mrs. Lovett? Somehow I could picture her doing it...am I crazy?
Updated On: 7/29/05 at 09:50 PM

[MyDreamsRecurring]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 10:06pm

Haha stay away from Jersey Girl..lol good one

In the movie, the daughter (no idea what her name is, only saw this movie because liv was in it) puts on a scene from Sweeney Todd while everyone else sings "memory" from cats. its actually pretty funny.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 10:25pm

I'm glad you like it. Sweeney is, and always will be, a wonderful show.