SWEENEY TODD (2023) Reviews

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:02pm

Starting a separate thread for those, like me, who sometimes likes to look up reviews years later and don't want to dig through a joint preview/review thread. (Feel free to cross-post to the big thread.)

Deadline:

‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ Broadway Review: Josh Groban & Annaleigh Ashford Triumph In Sondheim Masterpiece

https://deadline.com/2023/03/sweeney-todd-broadway-review-josh-groban-annaleigh-ashford-stephen-sondheim-1235310162/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:03pm

NYT Critics Pick from Green:

Review: The Many Thrilling Flavors of a Full-Scale ‘Sweeney Todd’

Sondheim’s masterpiece, restored to its proper size and sung to the hilt by Josh Groban, makes a welcome Broadway return.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/26/theater/sweeney-todd-broadway-review-josh-groban.html

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:04pm

The Wrap:

‘Sweeney Todd’ Broadway Review: Josh Groban Delivers a Kinder Serial Killer

(surprising rave for Fisher).

https://www.thewrap.com/sweeney-todd-broadway-review-josh-groban/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:04pm

Variety:

‘Sweeney Todd’ Review: Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford Lead a Soaring but Remote Sondheim Revival on Broadway

https://variety.com/2023/legit/reviews/sweeney-todd-review-josh-groban-broadway-annaleigh-ashford-1235564843/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:05pm

Daily News/Tribune:

BROADWAY REVIEW: ‘Sweeney Todd’ revival’ is funny, scary and disarmingly moving

https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/broadway/ny-broadway-sweeney-todd-review-20230327-evqibkjo6vb5vhtzavhi2b3vdy-story.html

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:05pm

USA Today:

'Sweeney Todd' review: Josh Groban is a cutthroat crooner in spectacular Broadway revival

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/27/sweeney-todd-2023-broadway-review-josh-groban/11534358002/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:06pm

Daily Beast:

‘Sweeney Todd’ Review: Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford Shine in Broadway Revival

HELL, IT’S FUN

Josh Groban, as Todd, and Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs. Lovett, make the perfectly mismatched pair in an ace Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s musical about love, murder—and pies.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/sweeney-todd-review-josh-groban-and-annaleigh-ashford-shine-in-broadway-revival

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:08pm

4 stars from TimeOut:

Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford star in a killer revival.

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/sweeney-todd-broadway-review-revival-josh-groban-annaleigh-ashford-stephen-sondheim

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:09pm

Bloomberg

Review: Sweeney Todd, Sondheim’s Bloody Barber, Is Back

The Broadway revival, starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, offers more music and even more laughs, but not a lot of meat.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:EEnbt9gtY8oJ:https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-27/sweeney-todd-josh-groban-and-annaleigh-ashford-broadway-review&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

"It’s no simple matter, staging a show that’s gorgeous, titillating, terrifying and devastating, often all at the same time. Unfortunately, the overstuffed production that opened last night at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre falls far short."

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:11pm

MemorableUserName said: "The Wrap:

‘Sweeney Todd’ Broadway Review: Josh Groban Delivers a Kinder Serial Killer

(surprising rave for Fisher).

https://www.thewrap.com/sweeney-todd-broadway-review-josh-groban/"

The musical high point of Act 1 is Fisher?  Seriously?

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:11pm

Marks in Washington Post is positive:

Groban and Ashford ignite the flames of a funny, sexier ‘Sweeney Todd’

"This “Sweeney Todd” is funnier, more idiosyncratically human, so maybe a beat or two less explosive than what I remember. But it remains an evening of myriad irresistible moments, with a score that sings us into everlastingly blissful submission."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/theater-dance/2023/03/26/groban-ashford-sweeney-todd-sondheim/

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:16pm

JasonC3 said: "The musical high point of Act 1 is Fisher? Seriously?"

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:16pm

3 Stars from NY Post:

‘Sweeney Todd’ review: Josh Groban is a gentle demon on Broadway

https://nypost.com/2023/03/26/sweeney-todd-review-josh-groban-a-gentle-demon-on-broadway/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:18pm

Vulture is positive:

A Sweeney Todd That Leans Into the Great Black Pit

https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/theater-review-sweeney-todd-broadway-revival.html

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:19pm

WSJ (if you can get past the paywall):

‘Sweeney Todd’ Review: Josh Groban’s Boyish Demon Barber

The superstar vocalist headlines alongside Annaleigh Ashford in a full-scale Broadway revival of the macabre Stephen Sondheim classic, but he struggles to fully summon Sweeney’s anguished soul.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweeney-todd-review-josh-grobans-boyish-demon-barber-151e79dc

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:20pm

These are some great reviews with great quotes to use. I'm especially happy to see the praise for Mimi Lien and Natasha Katz's designs. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:21pm

Slant:

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Review: A Fine Showcase for a Killer Score

Sweeney Todd can still shock, even if this production seldom goes for the jugular.

https://www.slantmagazine.com/theater/sweeney-todd-the-demon-barber-of-fleet-street-em-review-josh-groban/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:21pm

NY Stage Review 1: Five stars

Sweeney Todd: God, That’s Great

★★★★★ Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, and "Hamilton" creatives elevate a musical classic to unprecedented heights

https://nystagereview.com/2023/03/26/sweeney-todd-god-thats-great/

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:22pm

Some really great reviews. Certainly different from much of the reaction on this board. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:22pm

NY Stage Review 2 : 4 stars

Sweeney Todd: A Bloody Good Treat for Sondheim Fans

★★★★☆ Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford topline a grand revival of the 1979 musical about a bloodthirsty barber and his pastry-making accomplice

https://nystagereview.com/2023/03/26/sweeney-todd-a-bloody-good-treat-for-sondheim-fans/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:24pm

A from Entertainment Weekly:

Sweeney Todd review: Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford are a shear delight in Broadway revival

https://ew.com/theater/sweeney-todd-the-demon-barber-of-fleet-street-review-josh-groban-annaleigh-ashford/

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:26pm

What a triumph for Josh and Annaleigh. Congratulations to this entire company. It's truly an exquisite group of performers. Despite what I can nitpick about the production, it still sent chills up my spine and I wept with tears of laughter, sorrow, and joy that it was even happening in front of me. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:27pm

ljay889 said: "Certainly different from much of the reaction on this board."

Not the first time something like this has happened nor will it be the last.

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:29pm

I still think this wins Best Revival. I was thoroughly impressed by this production and am thrilled it's getting terrific reviews.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 3/26/23 at 9:29pm

These reviews are pretty damned stellar! Where is that Bad Cinderella troll hiding?