Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

#1

Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 6:28pm

This is totally pointless, but would anyone else die to see him in the role?

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"I have this mental image of Patti barreling down the street and pushing tourists out of her way." -colleen_lee

#2

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 6:34pm

Totally pointless! But sure, I would love to see him do it.

#3

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 6:40pm

I agree very pointless and I love all his work so Id see him in it but there are other roles Id rather see him in than sweeney, for instance a tony award winning portrayal of Bobby in Company would be splendid.

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<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado

Updated On: 11/2/07 at 06:40 PM

#4

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 7:22pm

No. He's not a good enough singer.

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Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#5

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 7:38pm

I think it's inevitable somewhere down the line. It's too close to the last revival to entertain any notions of seeing it in NYC in the foreseeable future, however. I'd certainly go.

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BroadwayEd

#6

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:02pm

If we're doing fantasy casting, of course I would go to see him as Sweeney but his effectiveness might depend on his Mrs. Lovett, among other things.

#7

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:03pm

he could never handle the material.

cerveris was about as good as it gets in this part.

#8

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:03pm

If you go on youtube and search for his Tony performance of Being Alive...

Look at his facial expression and tone when he sings "MOCK ME WITH PRAISE!"

Now...Imagine him singing "We all deserve to die!" with that expression...

Oh yeah!

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A little known fact is that in the original screenplay, Pan's Labyrinth was Pan's FLAByrinth. Hmmmmmmm...glad they changed it.

#9

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:06pm

I'd rather see Marc Kudisch perform it first...

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Your aspirations are your possibilities-Samuel Johnson (and a little help from nomdeplume)

#10

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:10pm

this is high-larious!

esparza (the dude from taboo)as sweeney.... dream on, y'all....

audra will play sweeney before raul

#11

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:11pm

Ditto, Brina.

#12

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:14pm

Tri-to, commasplice

#13

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:17pm

Don't stone me but...

He has too much vibrato for the role.

#14

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:21pm

If he approached it with the same kind of over-acting that he did the Tony performance of COMPANY with, I'd run from the theatre screaming.

And Sleeper, I have to disagee - I'll take George Hearn any day.

#15

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:32pm

newsflash! Tara Rubin is casting a new production of Sweeney Todd. The following performers are being called back for the title role before we consider Raul Esparza:

1. Andrea Martin
2. Jenny Powers
3. Linda Blair
4. Hillary Rodham Clinton
5. the little kid from Boy from Oz
6. all the von Trapp children
7. Homer Simpson
8. the hooker on the corner of 46th and 10th
9. Marc Shaiman
10. my ass

File this thread under: Delusional Musings.

#16

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 8:53pm

Sleeper, I think we get the point - you don't think Esparza is right for Sweeney.

I understand what you guys are saying about his Tony version of Being Alive, but I think his portrayal of Bobby within the show would be a more appropriate gauge of his talent, rather than that isolated performance.

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The morning star always gets wonderful bright the minute before it has to go --doesn't it?

#17

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 10:22pm

Here's a bit of a wrench in the works of this thread: I distinctly remember Raul saying in an interview during "Sunday in the Park with George" that Sondheim himself told him that he would make a good Sweeney.

Not that I agree, or even feel that Sondheim knows what actors are best for his shows (remember the revival of Follies? I can't believe Sondheim let that casting slide).

#18

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 10:25pm

Sleeper, I found Len Cariou far better than Cerveris.

And I can't see him as Sweeney.

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I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#19

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 10:54pm

I'd love to see him do it -- it's a role I've thought he should play for a while -- in a couple of years, anyway. He looks a little too young yet.

(I know how shocked you all must be.)

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 11/2/07 at 10:54 PM

#20

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 11:03pm

Homer Simpson would make a great Sweeney. They should do that in the next Treehouse of Terror.

#21

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 11:13pm

Raul doesn't have too much vibrato. He has a BAD vibrato.

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Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#22

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 11:18pm

Homer Simpson would make a great Sweeney. They should do that in the next Treehouse of Terror.

My mind just conjured THE weirdest image.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#23

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 11:28pm

So if he's such a bad singer and a bad vibratoer, why does he keep getting cast in Broadway productions to critical acclaim? Apparently not everyone (casting directors, composers, directors) minds as much as certain posters who think they know better.

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Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how

Updated On: 11/2/07 at 11:28 PM

#24

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 11:30pm

I think he could handle it quite well, and I'm sure his "Epiphany" would be very intense.

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"I am and always will be the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes and dreamer of improbable dreams." - Doctor Who

"Yes, the brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over, men recognize that the human race has been harshly treated but it has moved forward." - Les Miserables

Updated On: 11/2/07 at 11:30 PM

#25

re: Raul Esparza as Sweeney?

Posted: 11/2/07 at 11:33pm

Couldn't sing it? Just because you may not like his voice doesn't mean he couldn't sing it. Not only was he able to sing Bobby in Company (not to mention George in Sunday, among other vocally challenging roles), but he did it, in my opinion, very effectively. There's no doubt in my mind Raul could sing Sweeney...no problem. It's not like he doesn't have the range, and I actually think his crazy vibrato would actually suit that character a lot better than some others he's played.

Well, to answer the question, I'd love to see him do it.