Patti LuPone and Her Mrs. Lovett(s)...

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 3:30pm

There is no doubt that Patti LuPone COMPLETELY changed her Mrs. Lovett for the new revival - opposed to her Lovett from the concert versions.

She changed everything from her accent, the way she sings her songs, her expressions - she just isn't as wacky now. Her new Lovett is also much sexier.

So which Lovett of Lupone do you prefer? Her concert Lovett or her new revival Lovett?

I'd have to say I prefer her revival Lovett. I think the changes she made were great - and she brought a new depth and style to the character.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 3:38pm

Definitely the revival Lovett. The concert one was good but she didn't really have to act much for it (it WAS a concert where the main thing was singing which she nailed). She's phenomenal in the revival.

Posted: 1/2/06 at 3:43pm

Revival all the way....

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 3:43pm

nathan lane's "momma" voice in the movie version of betrayed reminds me tremendously of her concert performance.

[bwaykaykrazy]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 3:45pm

i thought that her portrayal of mrs lovett was GENIUS! that was one of the first things i said when i got out of the show. she was really great!

[Isabella2]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 4:04pm

her revival version is far better than the concert version.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 4:08pm

Her revival performance has humor, depth, sexuality, intense fear and even a good deal of real warmth, along with the dark devilishness.
A masterful performance.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 4:10pm

Her revival preformance, hands down, no question. It was completely brilliant fromn beginning to end. Every moment was perfect. Brilliance

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 4:13pm

The revival is great. And there's the added bonus of the tuba!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 4:18pm

Honestly, to me Patti LuPone popping out of the door with that tuba in "God that's Good" is one of those "moments" of musical theatre. The energy in the audience is palpable.

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 5:17pm

Honestly, I think in the concert version, she was a bit confined in that she was... I don't want to say imitating... but, well let me put this way: the was Angela Lansbury did it was essentially the only way it'd ever been done. Since the revival pretty much does away with trying to be like the original production (something a lot more revivals should do IMHO) I think Patti has a lot more freedom as Lovett now. So in my opinion it comes down to Patti LuPone playing Mrs. Lovett as characterized by Angela Lansbury and people's ideas of the character vs. Patti LuPone playing a Mrs. Lovett created by her and director from the ground up.

It could have turned out amazing or disasterous - I think it's amazing. Revival definitely wins.

(This is NOT to say, btw, that I don't like Angela's Lovett. I ADORE Angela's Lovett, but it is NOT the same Lovett as Patti's in the revival.)

[insomniak]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 5:17pm

I agree with all the things people have said about her latest portrayal, but I do enjoy the concert. I felt that at times she was a little too much, but overall very funny. The newer Mrs. Lovett is just more fully realized and textured. Here's to hoping she gets the Tony!

What is it that some people hate about her in the concert, anyway?

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 5:34pm

I'll never forget when she was first announced for the role in the revival - many people here were pissed off, because they weren't crazy about her in the concert.

Things sure have changed..

[chrrymn]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 1:58pm

Revival all the way. Sexy plus evil just works so well together!

[Isabella2]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 2:57pm

i liked her concert version but i was blown away by her revival Lovett. Also the wnding where she dies made me laugh. HEr fosca also made me laugh sometimes. Updated On: 9/6/06 at 02:57 PM

[sweeneyfan]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 3:07pm

Clearly,you don't know much about Hal Prince (and I'm not sure from where you put your comment if you thought he directed PASSION -- he did not, any version of it). But Hal Prince has won 20+ Tonys, many of them for direction of a musical, and most of THOSE before the Tonys were awarded for anything other than sheer excellence. He, like everyone else, has had his share of flops (Grind, Superman among them), but his success rate makes your question kind of silly... he directed (among other things) Evita, Phantom, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, the original Cabaret, etc. (And I know Phantom's direction leaves something to be desired)...

[tthomas76]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 3:16pm

Revival - hands down

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 6:26pm

Hal Prince is anything but a bad director, he directed LuPone in her Tony award winning turn as Evita. He's responsible of such mold-breaking shows as Cabaret, Company, Follies, Pacific Overtures, and the original production of Sweeney Todd. LuPone's concert Lovett was based on Hal Prince's direction but he didn't direct her himself on the concert, but before Doyle took over Sweeney, most people had emulated Hal Prince's staging of the show, it doesn't mean one is better than the other, they are two completely different ways of telling the same story.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 12:55am

Revival! Patti gave us a quintessential Lovett for the 21st century to be reckoned with.