So Tardy, SWEENEY TODD

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:06pm

Sweeney Todd, I am so tardy, please forgive me for taking so long to get to your show.

You are beathtakingly accurate in your timing, sophisticated in the full embodiment of all your roles, your singing is a godsend, your musicianship stunning.

I confess I wasn't going to go because I had seen a gruesome production not so long ago at NY City Opera that made me dislike the show, even though Elaine Paige sang beautifully. It trudged, slow-paced, and seemed revolting in its handling of the violence.

But YOU, Broadway's Sweeney Todd, are elegant, stylish, a masterpiece. And the quiet during the show and rave at its finish from your audience last night were the least we could give you in gratitiude. How I loved this show I thought I was not fond of! You are master artists at your craft and I am so glad I saw you!

And now, having seen both Jersey Boys and your fine show, I must admit that though I much enjoyed their performances, you Michael Cerveris and you Manoel Felciano, deserved the Tonys instead, not to take from them, but instead to laud and credit you. Patti Lupone, I love your clear and perfect voice and your overall masterly edginess. (I haven't seen Color Purple yet, so I can't judge as to the Tony.)

This show is such a credit to the talents of Broadway. Please excuse that I don't mention every actor in the show, they were all of the highest caliber and excellent. I loved the simplicity of the executions in lighting and the blood beribboned lab coats, and the overall less-is-more simplicity of the set.

It is a performance that shall live on in my memory as the best of theatre does!

Thank you, thank you, Sweeney Todd! Updated On: 8/25/06 at 02:06 PM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:09pm

Nom, it's not Beth Leavel to whom Patti lost, but LaChanze over at the Color Purple.

[kgee30]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:10pm

Bravo! What a lovely read -- thank you.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:15pm

Thanks, bwaysinger, updated. I had said, for those that didn't see it, that I could not have chosen between Beth and Patti as I loved both their voices and performances, both were excellent.

[sunflower12063]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:25pm

nomdeplume, now that you've seen it, come join a bunch of us at closing night!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:29pm

aw, sank you bebe

we shall see...

[xoxRogue]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:34pm

Wonderful!

[NBC]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:36pm

I was there last night, too...I was so glad to see the theater looking so full, and the response that the audience gave at the curtain call. The cast just works together so superbly...it is a marvel to watch, and hear.

I will be at the closing, as well!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 2:41pm

One suggestion, if you attend get an orchestra seat.

I sat mid-mezz to one side for the first act and was hearing more of the instruments which masked the voices and lyrics for me. At intermission I found a vacant center orchestra seat on the aisle toward the back and then could hear the voices clearly and every lyric and consonant, which were elocuted finely with style and great timing.

[Stagedoor2]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 3:01pm

I was there last night as well and it was wonderful!

Nom -- you may have snuck into the row in front of me -- three empty seats and then only two after intermission??? Hmmmm, sneaky.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 3:09pm

Haha, Stagedoor2. That wasn't the spot.

(Unless, of course, the person before you had a very prominant, magnificent beak. Then it may have been me.)

I would like to see Manoel take a role with some chance to move and run about the stage to see how dashing he may be. His singing is exquisite, his acting, artistry.

Updated On: 8/25/06 at 03:09 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 4:16pm

So 2 shows I've kept telling you to see and you kept saying no, you finally saw and loved. Maybe next time you'll listen to me :-P

Intermission seat-switching is fun.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 4:36pm

"I had said, for those that didn't see it, that I could not have chosen between Beth and Patti as I loved both their voices and performances, both were excellent."

You wouldn't have needed to choose, since they weren't nominated in the same category.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 4:48pm

I finally saw it last night as well! I loved it and I am seriously thinking of going to the final perfomance. Guess I will see you all there as well.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 4:51pm

If Frasier Crane were a reviewer

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 5:53pm

wrq--I never said I loved DRS, it was okay. I'm more fond of Brian d'Arcy James than the show.

Fosse76, you're a day late and a dollar short on that one.

HamletWasBipolar ("jasonvanem"), I wanna see you bother to make the effort to give a little write-up on a show so we can all have a party and trash it. That is, if you are capable of seeing and writing about one instead of just showing us your sorry *ss. If you were a little sharper you would have also realized that this was not a review, as I left that word out of the thread title. It was an apology to this fine production that I had not seen it sooner.
Updated On: 8/25/06 at 05:53 PM

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:05pm

I humbly take that back, as Frasier Crane had a sense of humor.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:06pm

Humor requires something amusing.

Try harder next time.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:08pm

I think writing two lines is trying hard enough. Nobody likes a verbose twit.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 6:13pm

Television is such a bore.

In Manhattan, live performance is only a few blocks and a few dollars away.

I am surprised that three others from BWW also saw the show last night. Is that a record?

Anyone care to make it four?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:42pm

Nah, there was at least 5 at Sweeney on Tuesday.

Not to mention...at least 10 at Greg Jbara's last performance of DRS.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 10:46pm

It's a shame that it's closing. It's also a shame it lost its deserved Tony. As much as I found The Pajama Game nice and enjoyable, thinking back on it, Marshall concentrated more on her annoying ensemble than she did on the wonderful stars. Doyle's production of Sweeney Todd is brilliant and I too found it excellent nomdeplume.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 8/25/06 at 11:10pm

Should I be worried about the sound quality from my closing night seats way back in the rear mezzanine? I mean, I'm not expecting the seats to be great but...

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 8/26/06 at 1:12am

The sound quality in the Mezz is fine. It is better in the Orchestra, although I would say it is better in the Mezz than the part of the orchestra that is overhung.
The last row seats are still quite good, for the money.

Great musings, nom.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/26/06 at 12:40pm

I would also recommend, if you do not have seats within the first few rows of the stage, bringing your opera glasses so you can study the items on the bookcase at the back of the set.

Some of them, like the cross, are lit up at certain scenes during the show and it would be interesting to study them a little.