Sweeney Todd

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:22pm

I just watched the film version with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury and didn't enjoy it at all. The music of course is gorgeous but the acting is less than desirable. Angela, who I love dearly, made Mrs. Lovett a characiture of sorts. As I am more familar with the concert version starring Hearn and LuPone, I'm surprised that people favor Lansbury over LuPone (who I felt did a better job in the acting of the role). Lansbury, I felt, hopped around like a child during "a little priest" and I was put off to say the least. Also, I didn't like Judge Turpine or Joanna (her singing was very odd to say the least). Also, who the heck designed the costumes for this production? I thought they were unattractive,especially Joanna's.
Now, I know this sounds like a bashing post but believe me, I acutally enjoy the music of Sweeney and Sondheim emmensily. I just found the orignal production very odd. Maybe it takes some getting used to...anyone else feel this way?

[Pinguin]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:27pm

Wow. You're the first person I've ever encountered to praise LuPone over Lansbury. I think LuPone is silly, I've never been a fan of hers.

I think the show and the production are marvelous. But I will say I'm excited about this revamping their doing for the revival.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:31pm

Lansbury and Hearn's performances are two of the greatest I've even seen in the musical theatre -- ingenious and definitive. I saw them do it live 25 years ago and to me, they still OWN those roles.

I thought Lupone was decent enough, but her characterization lacked the depth and nuance of Lansbury's.

[romanov]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:33pm

I saw the original production of Sweeney Todd at the Uris, now the Gershwin, Theatre. That place is a cavern, which can account for Lansbury's performance seeming overblown from the performance filmed in Washington. It did not come across like that live. However, you are quite correct about Betsy Joslyn, who is a major disappointment as Johanna. The original Sarah Rice was wonderful.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:35pm

I didn't even know about it filmed in Washington. Thanks for the information. That migth account for how I reacted towards her performance.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:36pm

I just have a question though. One thing that bothered me is her acting during "A little Priest". Why does she hid behind a meat pit during the song? I was like "okay...what the heck is she doing"? Agian, this could just be me though.

[Madame X]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:37pm

I enjoy Patti LuPone, but just not as Mrs Lovett. If LuPone is in fact cast in the revival, they better get her a great dialect coach b/c her accent was all over the place in the concert. Angela Lansbury definitely owns this role for me too - love the dvd.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:43pm

In regards to A.Lansbury... I have to say I love her portrayal Mrs Lovett. Yeah, at times she does hop around like a overgrown child...but I think it adds to the narcissistic nature of the character. She is so blinded by her own ambitions and desires she doesn't have a proper scope on the consequences of her actions and manipulations.

She doesn't think twice about butting the beggar women out the shop, chopping up dead people and serving them to the masses, and binding Toby in the slaughter/bake house.

"What a sweet affectionate child it is...", she says in front of the lad. She notices him but is not moved. Her concern is false as she places him in the bake house only 'cause he guessed about Sweeney.

Mrs Lovett definitely has a screw lose.
( I think if we came across a person in real life like Nellie Lovett most people would not befriend her. ) Birds of a feather flock together. The only people who dare hang around her are people who are 'broken'. For example, the beggar woman keeps hanging around, Toby who is parentless and cripple and Sweeney who's heart and mind is as dark as hers.
Perhaps her customers think she is odd too...who knows?

She is not a sweet person. Rather, Lovett acts in a manner that she would hope people would perceive her as "sweet".

The character is selfish and manipulating which I think Angela Lansbury did a fantastic job portraying.

[romanov]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:47pm

Part of the problem with the filmed performance is the camera angles at times were bizarre. It's really a shame the Circle in the Square production was not filmed. Bob Gunton and Beth Fowler were wonderful. You might have enjoyed this 'toned down' production more. The ladies' roles were completely rethought. The only jarring note in that production was Jim Walton as Anthony.
Updated On: 5/31/05 at 02:47 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:48pm

I thought both Hearn and Lansbury were wonderful. They certainly impressed me.

My disappointment with watching the DVD was that, having heard how large-scale the production was, I found it rather simple and minimalist. All there was was a backdrop, an iron bridge (which Hal Prince recycled in EVITA), moveable iron staircases and the "box" set. The stage felt empty so much of the time -- or is this just the result of filming the stage show?

[romanov]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:50pm

Blue Wizard, the DVD gives that impression of the set. However, in the original production, the set was overwhelming and many thought the show was overproduced. That set was enormous. It was an iron foundry that was found in Rhode Island and reassembled at the Uris.
Updated On: 5/31/05 at 02:50 PM

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:51pm

I wish I could have seen this in person as I might have felt different about the production then I do now.

[littleredridinghood]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:52pm

I like having the Hearn/Lansbury tape just to have a copy of Sweeney Todd.

I love both Hearn and Lansbury, I think they're both amazing, though honestly, I liked LuPone's quite a bit too. I don't like Johanna too much - she's kinda silly-acting, and she goes cross-eyed on every high note. The Judge I felt was played like an amusing old man as opposed to someone evil; when he died, I was kinda like "awww." Pirelli doesn't look ANYTHING like what I thought Pirelli should look like, but he's good nevertheless. Ken Jennings is just fantastic.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:55pm

It's because the set for the touring version was MUCH less elaborate and more simplified than the Broadway set. For the Broadway production, they actually bought an old deserted factory in Rhode Island, dismantled it and used it for the set. It was quite enormous, extended up well past the procenium. But, given the varying dimensions of the theatres they were to play in, they couldn't use it for the tour so a simplified version was created and that's what you see on the DVD.

[Luvinbroadway]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:34pm

I enjoyed both Patti and Angela...both were very different and unique. One thing I will say for Patti (saw it the weekend it played Lincoln Center)..what a performance with barely any rehearsal time...I can only imagine how good it will be if her part is fully fleshed out in a the reheasal process.

Just a thought!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:39pm

there are a lot of us who prefer Patti over Angela. we're just hiding...

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:50pm

I don't know about "over Angela", but I certainly felt like she got out of Lansbury's shadow, which is miraculous to me because I think the original production was brilliant. I hope Lupone is cast in the revival, I can't wait!
Updated On: 5/31/05 at 04:50 PM

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:52pm

I agree wholeheartedly Gypsy. I admire Landsbury in a lot of roles, but I didn't love her in this one. I perfer LuPone, though I don't think LuPone was perfect either. I'm waiting for Donna Murphy's shot.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:54pm

Magruder wrote a great post about Lansbury's Lovett a while back; I'll see if I can find it.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:54pm

"I thought Lupone was decent enough, but her characterization lacked the depth and nuance of Lansbury's."

I feel a little of the opposite Margo. I think I sort of felt like for parts, Angela could have made a lot more choices when I felt she sort of only played the "flightly" character.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 5:01pm

Alright, it was three posts, so I strung them together.

"Anyone who says they don't like Angela Lansbury in Sweeney Todd should be eaten.

It's over the top because a camera is in her face capturing the performance she's giving in the 2,500 seat Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. She's playing big in a big theatre, filling the space the way a great stage star is able to do. In person in the original Broadway production, it's the greatest female performance in a musical I've ever seen - with Len Cariou every bit her equal.

A lot of what Lansbury is doing is English Music Hall vaudeville, and in fact, some of her physical bits are homages to Tessie O'Shea. I've seen a lot of Lovetts over the years, but no one ever went out on a limb with the mania the way Lansbury did, but still found the lost, lonely woman at the same time AND made you love her and root for her, even at her most avaricious. It's just a genius performance and I can't abide a word said against it."

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 5:18pm

wow i'm shocked that you didn't like Hern or Lansbury...i have the dvd of this and i love it! i have watched it a number of times..Lansbury's performance is wonderful she's my favorite thing in the show! Lupone was great but she is no Lansbury.

[JoshuaEads]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:52pm

Cats,

I'm out and proud! LuPone all the way!

~Joshua

[bwayrocks_ca]

Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:01am

Well, Joshua and Cats, if the Patti fans are coming out...

Count me in!! Patti Rocks!

[JoshuaEads]

Posted: 6/1/05 at 12:03am

I'm comin' out,
I want the world to know,
I've got to let it show!

Welcome to the club, Bway.

Should I have tee-shirts made?

~Joshua