My review of Sweeney

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 2:48pm

My first review thread. Be kind.

Sweeney Todd, Nov. 7 evening performance
I had the pleasure of seeing this show very early in the previews and was blown away by it. I didn't expect to be blown away again, but I was.

I think this show almost has to be seen at least twice. The first time, I was almost distracted by the "Wow! They're really playing the instruments" factor to the point that I wasn't sure where to focus on the stage at times. This time, I was used to the convention from the moment the curtain opened, and it was like seeing a completely different show than the first time.

I won't speak too broadly on why I loved this show and every actor in it. There's already been ample reviews that have touched on that. I'll just touch on a few specifics. And let me caveat -- I'm not nearly old enough to have seen the Lansbury/Cariou version, and my only connection with that time is the cast recording and the Lansbury/Hearn DVD, so I am making no comparisons between the two.

The first scene between Sweeney and Lovett is electric. Traditionally, we see Sweeney transform from a sullen, wronged yet disturbed man into a violent monster. In this show -- with the way he treats Lovett as she tells him what happened to Lucy and Johanna -- the transition is almost the opposite. But by the time we get to "By the Sea," any sign of a soul, good or bad, is gone. He's become a machine. And I know that's always been the intent of the show, the dehumanization of Sweeney with the razor making "his right arm whole again," but I think this production really brings that out.

To compare the broad characterization Patti LuPone gave to Lovett in the concert version to what she's doing now is astonishing. And FTR, I liked her in the concert version, too -- I thought the broadness was needed in that format.

And just a few other subtleties I noticed this time that I'd missed before (sorry if someone else has already mentioned these):

-The tall shelf at the back of the stage. It took me awhile to figure out that certain items were being spotlighted on the wall during certain times in the show. A cross during Judge Turpin's Johanna, for example, or a doll in a cage during "Green Finch and Linnet Bird."

-When Sweeney talks, Tobias is often mouthing his words with him. Given the set-up at the beginning of the show, it's an interesting choice.

-The keyboard is the musical backbone for this show, of course, but I didn't notice before how many in the cast actually had to play it.

-I'd noticed the additional business between Lovett and the Beggar Woman the first time, and loved that. But this time, I also noticed a similar "off-stage" relationship between Tobias and Pirelli. Donna Lynne Champlin is often ordering him about the stage, and it kind of combines her role as the abusive Pirelli and her "doctor" role at the beginning of the show.

-And while I'm speaking of Tobias, his final "gag" at the end of the show is the muffler Lovett knitted for him. Nice touch.

[kgee30]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:25pm

Exceptionally well-written and very perceptive, Calvin -- bravo. You've given me much to be aware of next Tuesday -- I missed many of the same things when I saw it the first night of previews. Thank you!

[MoonOnAstring]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:35pm

Great review, Calvin.

I really loved the way they enhanced the relationships between characters by showing us their interactions when they weren't
"on"... this really made the relationships more complex and multi-layered.

I never noticed the fact that Tobias was mouthing some of Sweeney's lines. I was so overwhelmed by the show when I saw it that I probably missed a lot! I need to see it again SOON.


Thanks again for your review!

Updated On: 11/7/05 at 03:35 PM

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:44pm

I too never noticed Tobias mouthing Sweeney's words. You'd think after seeing the show twice, I'd pick up on a few more things. Just proves one thing...great theater!!!

[Isabella2]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 4:45pm

thanks a lot for those pointers! I'll make sure to look at those the next time I watch. You're very observant.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 6:03pm

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

I should also mention that I had my car towed for the first time ever prior to the show -- I had seen "See What I Wanna See" earlier in the day. So I was in a very vindictive mood by the time Sweeney came along. Really put me in the spirit of things.

[MoonOnAstring]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 6:14pm

I'm sure it did! Vindictive is a great mood to see Sweeney in =)
Did you enjoy SWIWS?

Hope you got your car back!

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 7:32pm

I did enjoy SWIWS. It took me a few minutes to get my LaChiusa ear back, but there were some great moments in that show.

And I did get my car back, although I'm now almost $300 poorer because of it.

[Isabella2]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 10:10pm

What's SWIWS?

[phantompenguinx]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 10:16pm

"See What I Wanna See" =)

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 10:22pm

In all these reviews I keep hearing about Patti and Micheal and Manoel which is great, but how are Anthony and Johanna? How is there relationship played out in the Mental Institution?

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 12:58am

I thought Lauren Molina and Benjamin Magnuson were great.

I didn't notice much business between the two of them when they were "off" but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. Anyone caught anything there?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/8/05 at 1:08am

Little Fish, I found Molina to be the most enjoyable Johanna I have seen/heard. I actually care for her character in this production, which is a great acomplishment. Magnusen was great, but Anthony still doesn't resound with me.

The Anthony/Johanna "off" interactions are all related to thier amazingly orchestrated cello playing sequences, the desire and alienation in the characters is portayed musically, and beautifully in the score. Since they are not often "together" they do not interact otherwise, and in that they are often pushed as far apart as possible by the other characters, it is even better.