Sweeney Todd 2.0 - Carmello and Lewis - Page 5

[broadwayTX]

Posted: 6/21/17 at 8:31pm

Don't sit on the balcony. I sat front row up on the balcony and it had a nice view of most of the action, but the actors did go under quote a lot to where they were out of view. The seat I had cost the same as the seats down below which weren't obstructed view, so you might as well sit down on the first floor if you're going to have to pay the same price no matter what. 

I left having enjoyed the show a lot! But I do wish that the website listed the balcony seats as obstructed view, or even just mentioned that some of the action will not be visible. 

[blm2323]

Posted: 6/21/17 at 9:17pm

I saw this on Sunday as well. My hubby and I loved it.  He had seen the Doyle version but it left him confused, this one he was able to follow a lot better (although some parts can still be unclear).

Carmello was sensational - beat out Lupone in my opinion.  Quirky, funny, sang the hell out of the part, and evil.  Lewis was frightening as well - the brutality of him killing Mrs. Lovett was absolutely chilling.

I also liked how the letter was read instead of sung - I like how it sped up the action (and that song has never been a favorite mine - apologies to the poster who really liked it!)

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 10:28am

I would appreciate it if someone could answer two questions about the staging of this production. First, if there's no barber chair, how/where does Sweeney kills his victims, and second, where is the (tiny) band positioned?

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 11:07am

Chair/victim wise, you have to use your imagination as with the Doyle production. This version even cuts the part of God, That's Good where Sweeney receives the fancy chair. Doyle surprisingly kept it. 

The tiny band is positioned in a little corner on the far "stage" left, the opposite end from the pie counter. 

Updated On: 6/22/17 at 11:07 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 11:18am

ljay889 said: "Chair/victim wise, you have to use your imagination as with the Doyle production. This version even cuts the part of God, That's Good where Sweeney receives the fancy chair. Doyle surprisingly kept it. 

I've not seen any prior productions of Sweeney Todd, so I'm afraid this doesn't help much. 

ljay889 said: "The tiny band is positioned in a little corner on the far "stage" left, the opposite end from the pie counter."

Thanks!

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 11:56am

I won't spoil it, but when Sweeney is Killing, it is always very obvious. The Chair/chute buisness is kinda glossed over, which is an unfortunately casualty of the intimacy.  

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 1:22pm

ChairinMain said: "I won't spoil it, but when Sweeney is Killing, it is always very obvious. The Chair/chute buisness is kinda glossed over, which is an unfortunately casualty of the intimacy."

Would you please explain in a spoiler box?

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 2:56pm

This is how you know when someone is being killed - 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The house lights are completely red, mostly near the staging area but since it's such a small space - it lights up the whole room. It was very effective and scary. You'd think after the first murder you'd get used to it, but the increasing intensity just makes it worse every time. I'm very sensitive to gimmicky things directors to with lighting/sound design to drill in a point or represent a specific action - I f*cking hated Ivo Van Hove's A View From The Bridge - but I loved it here. It wasn't just gimmicky. It transported me to Sweeney's state of mind which had blood, rage, murder, and darkness. It also transported me to his victim's state of mind which was filled with fear.

Also, just because there's no barber's chair, doesn't mean a barber can't do their work. The patrons sit on a stool, it's really not that difficult to process that, is it?

[emo_geek]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 3:47pm

It has been a month since I've seen Sweeney and I still think about it often! I loved it. 

 

Random- but can someone explain the Sorry No Eels! sign? Why do they make such a big fuss over it? Magnet, shirt- prominent advertising all contain it. Is it just something they found funny from the original shop? 

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 3:57pm

Vocally he's dynamic, but poor Norm is just not up to the demands of the role otherwise.

However, in that tiny theatre, in this weird little Sweeney Todd, Carmello is distinguishing herself as one of the GREAT Nellie Lovetts.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 4:14pm

Did you see Norm earlier in his run? I thought he was absolutely firing on all cylinders last weekend. I'm curious if others who have seen him twice could comment on his growth in the role. I wasn't expecting him to be as ferocious given his earlier notices around here.

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 4:29pm

ljay889 said: "Did you see Norm earlier in his run? I thought he was absolutely firing on all cylinders last weekend. I'm curious if others who have seen him twice could comment on his growth in the role. I wasn't expecting him to be as ferocious given his earlier notices around here."

I saw him about three weeks ago.  He did yell loudly a lot a the people in the front row, but it wasn't terribly convincing.  He's never been a terribly persuasive actor; but fine in most of the parts he's been given. There is just too much in the character Sweeney Todd for his meager acting talent to mine.

But, again, he sang it GLORIOUSLY.

 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 4:37pm

Valentina3 said: "This is how you know when someone is being killed - (spoiler)
Also, just because there's no barber's chair, doesn't mean a barber can't do their work. The patrons sit on a stool, it's really not that difficult to process that, is it?"

Also, they use a really screechy loud whistle which is might be almost as disruptive as what I've heard of the factory whistle in the original production.

 

Updated On: 6/22/17 at 04:37 PM

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 6/22/17 at 4:53pm

Anyone gone on a two show day- do they come out after both shows?

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 8:50am

Went last night, and it was one of my favorite nights in the theater in a long time.  I liked Norm's acting more than most--not as dynamic as some, but he seems to have grown into the role as the reviews have gotten better with time.   The intimate staging is quite impressive, although due to its limitations, this production is probably best for those familiar with the show, which I'm sure 95% of attendees are.  The 8 performers can fill the room as if they were a chorus of 40, and the 3(?) person orchestra also sounds grander than it is. 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I was disappointed with the staging in the final scene.  Condensing three levels of action was confusing but passable (perhaps distinctive lighting could have separated them more?), but I really disliked the way they handled Mrs. Lovett's death.  The oven was introduced behind the pie shop when Mrs. Lovett showed it to Toby.  Despite the tight quarters of the stairs, couldn't Sweeney have thrown her behind the stage there, we hear the fire and screaming, and it's over?  Pummeling her behind the counter, where there is a new red light and fire, took me out of the moment.  Is he in the oven with her?  Then stopping to rest, almost with comedic intention, before finishing her off?  I just can't get behind that choice.  Was I missing something from my front house left seat?

I also didn't love the placement of Sweeney and dead Lucy on the stairs.  After his manic episode, it required Toby to run behind them to slit Sweeney's throat.  When Sweeney is collapsed on the ground in most stagings, it seems a lot more plausible for a dazed, diminutive Toby to complete the act.  It comes across more premeditated and aggressive given this production's staging, which I don't think was necessary even given the space

Despite these quibbles, I really enjoyed it.  They just kept me from being quite as satisfied as I left the theater.

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 9:01am

Valentina3 said: "This is how you know when someone is being killed - 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The house lights are completely red, mostly near the staging area but since it's such a small space - it lights up the whole room. It was very effective and scary. You'd think after the first murder you'd get used to it, but the increasing intensity just makes it worse every time. I'm very sensitive to gimmicky things directors to with lighting/sound design to drill in a point or represent a specific action - I f*cking hated Ivo Van Hove's A View From The Bridge - but I loved it here. It wasn't just gimmicky. It transported me to Sweeney's state of mind which had blood, rage, murder, and darkness. It also transported me to his victim's state of mind which was filled with fear.

 

Thank you for the above.

Valentina3 said: "Also, just because there's no barber's chair, doesn't mean a barber can't do their work. The patrons sit on a stool, it's really not that difficult to process that, is it?"

My question wasn't about "processing". I've not seen any production of Sweeney Todd before, but I know that the murders have historically been carried out with the victim in the barber's chair and then the body goes down a chute when the deed is done. What I was trying to determine was how this scenario played out if there was no chair/chute, i.e., is there some other plot device to replace the chair and where does the body go?

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 9:10am

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

No chute/body drop action is conveyed at all with the deaths. Depending on the plot point, bodies either remain where they were killed or they get up and walk away like a walking dead person, similar to Doyle's production. 

 

Updated On: 6/23/17 at 09:10 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/23/17 at 9:20am

ljay889 said: "

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

No chute/body drop action is conveyed at all with the deaths. Depending on the plot point, bodies either remain where they were killed or they get up and walk away like a walking dead person, similar to Doyle's production. 

 

"

Thank you!

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/27/17 at 10:05pm

Norm and Carolee were great on Today.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/VIDEO-SWEENEY-TODDs-Carolee-Carmello-Norm-Lewis-Perform-A-Little-Priest-on-TODAY-20170627

Updated On: 6/27/17 at 10:05 PM

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/28/17 at 8:59am

Lot666 said: "Valentina3 said: "Also, just because there's no barber's chair, doesn't mean a barber can't do their work. The patrons sit on a stool, it's really not that difficult to process that, is it?"

My question wasn't about "processing". I've not seen any production of Sweeney Todd before, but I know that the murders have historically been carried out with the victim in the barber's chair and then the body goes down a chute when the deed is done. What I was trying to determine was how this scenario played out if there was no chair/chute, i.e., is there some other plot device to replace the chair and where does the body go?"

Ahh, my bad. I was confused by the context of the question, sorry about the unnecessary sass :)

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/28/17 at 9:12am

Valentina3 said: "Ahh, my bad. I was confused by the context of the question, sorry about the unnecessary sass :)"

[gleek4114]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 9:04am

Just confirmed via Twitter, Carolee is out of the show August 8-13, but has extended her contract and will be with the show through *at least* the end of September (she didn't give a departure date). Happy news!!!

[Eliza2]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 9:08am

gleek4114 said: "Just confirmed via Twitter, Carolee is out of the show August 8-13, but has extended her contract and will be with the show through *at least* the end of September (she didn't give a departure date). Happy news!!!"

https://twitter.com/CaroleeCarmello/status/880408448604794881

That's the week I was going 

 

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 11:19am

Eliza2 - her standby is going to be amazing! Liz Pearce has been the cover since the original Brits. Liz is British and one fierce actress/singer. Her Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot was awesome. But I'm biased as I loved her then and am specifically going to see her 8/13!

[coreman009]

Posted: 7/7/17 at 1:48pm

Confirmed: Matt Doyle, Brad Oscar, and one other (may have been Alex Finke?) are leaving on August 27th. Doyle said it on Broadwaycom's Live at 5 the other day. 

I'm just still devastated that Carmello will be out on August 13th, that's when I'm going and I only wanna see her and Norm Lewis.