Sweeney - The First Coming

I get sick of it when people can't just accept that other people like things.
Why does it need to be a "you don't like the real thing" arguement?

In answer to your question, an whole lot of people loved Sweeney Todd before this revival and many of them despise this revival and its fans.

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You know, I just want to say, as someone who did use this revival as a gateway drug of sorts into other Sondheim shows, enough is enough. I know you feel protective of it having seen the original, but to slap the label on everyone who discovered the show because of this revival is lame; and it is even moreso that that you apparently can't handle other people loving "your" show, and additionally that it bothers you that this was the production that has made people love it. It was not my first Sondheim show, but the first I loved, and I give much responsibility for that fact to Doyle's direction, because I think what he's done is pure genius.

I've wondered about it, too, but... it's a show that's worlds away from Wicked. I think that even though it does have young fans and fans who are new to Sweeney and Sondheim, they're intelligent, and leagues ahead of teenybopper Wicked fans. It seems unfair to doubt that people really could love this just because they're young, and to assume that it's just "general fan worship." I don't say this in personal defense alone, but I don't think what's happened here is at all like Wicked -- it's not a show that you can pretend to like or pretend to understand. It's too heavy for that. This revival is exposing people TO the original; kids are going out and buying the DVD of the original production and embracing it. If you love it so much, you shouldn't be so averse to that.

The fact is that some people, the people you're condemning here, were too young to see the original production -- a very unfortunate fact of life. But please, off your high horse already. You've been parading this Sweenybopper crusade around, and your high horse has been beaten dead. The age-ist sentiment on this board, no matter how hard fought, will never go away.

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Updated On: 8/1/06 at 11:20 PM

What does it matter? That's incredibly shallow.

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I saw the Circle in the Square show in the late 80s
Seeing the current one tomorrow finally.

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In the newcomers defense..

A lot of the newer Sweeney fans weren't born or old enough to see the original production. I just like the revival better. I've seen the pro shot and listened to the original recording. I can appreciate the original production, I just love the new one more.

I respect your opinion. I feel the same way sometimes about shows. But if you think it's bad now..just wait until the movie comes out and all the teenage girls are wearing Sweeney Todd shirts from Hot Topic because Johnny Depp is the star.

A friend of mine introduced me to the video with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn a few years ago. I fell in love with it then. I think this revival was a good thing to get more people interested.

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Jason, were you actually old enough to see the original? Aren't you around my age?

I don't think he meant it as much of an attack on anyone who actually liked the revival as it sounds.

But I stand by the idea that this type of posturing really does nothing to farther knowledge, debate, or love of theatre.

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how many people just like it because it is popular in the theater community to like and how many have loved it for years because it is a quality show.

But Caitie, you're failing to recognize that there's middle ground -- there are people who have not loved it for years, but nor do they only love it because they've hopped on a bandwagon. You don't have to have loved it for years to realize the beauty of this production.

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I'm too young to have seen the original, but I like the music, and I love to concept. I dont get how you can like the revival and not the original.

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I saw the Original 3 times because it was a major theatrical event of it's time and a brilliant staging with a super talented cast.
I saw the revival and was once again blown away by the imagination of it's Direvtor and another stellar cast.
The fact that it was as succeful again is a testament to Sondheim's score and Wheeler's book.
Two very different takes on a classic work.
No comparison is needed.

I've wondered about it, too, but... it's a show that's worlds away from Wicked. I think that even though it does have young fans and fans who are new to Sweeney and Sondheim, they're intelligent, and leagues ahead of teenybopper Wicked fans.

It's wrong to condemn the backlash against some of the younger Sweeney fans, but it's perfectly okay to condemn the "teeney boppper" Wicked fans?

Sweeney Todd is not that that high brow. Murderous barber teams up with a pie shop owner to get revenge on a crooked judge. It's not Rambeau or Nitzche. Understanding Sweeney Todd does not somehow make ST fans smarter or more intelligent.

Doyle may have revitalized and reinvented the telling of the tale, but he didn't re-write the original story. Wicked was equally original and creative and clever. There just isn't any cute boys in it.

So they're not allowed to appreciate the show because they are interested in the actors? That pretty much lets out every show on Broadway.

I don't understand what you want. So they don't appreciate it the way you do. They appreciate it differently right now. And as time goes on, who knows what other Sondheim shows and shows that LuPone and Cerveris starred in before they were old enough to notice they will now be interested in?

And when they take their kids to see the next revival - because they learned to appreciate the show due to this revival - will that be negated by the fact that on this day, they were interested in Mano because he's cute?

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