Sweeney Todd - Reviews from those of us who have seen it

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 10:27am

Yes. I know there are multiple threads.
Each contain various posts from professional critics, people who want to discuss various elements of the show, and all other topics...

But, I wanted to hear some of the thoughts from people here who have seen it?
I'd love to hear your reviews!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 10:28am

You start us off!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 10:43am

First: The orchestra. That, alone, makes this worth seeing.

I loved the opening. What a great concept! It set the perfect tone for what was to follow.

Bryn Terfel's bass-baritone was magnificent, and perfect for the role. I also thought his performance was fittingly haunting. I firmly disagree with those who have criticized his acting, saying they found it bland. I found it to be moving and touching (the PAIN when he discovered his wife!) and engaging.

Emma Thompson? A new level of brilliance. The very few notes at the top of her range that were a little weak mattered not one bit. Her singing was surprisingly strong (I had no idea!), and her performance was a master class in comic timing. Most interesting, to me, was the sadder emotion she brought to Mrs. Lovett. An element of her performance broke my heart (even while I was laughing). I hope we see her back on the NY stage soon.

Audra. 'Nuff said. Perfect. (I wonder what Saturday's shows will be without her?)

The supporting cast was excellent.

I did wonder if they needed quite as many 'chorus' members. At times the stage seemed overly crowded. But it was a minor, minor point.

I'm thrilled this will be televised, and hope the entirety of what happens on stage is captured effectively to convey it properly.

Updated On: 3/7/14 at 10:43 AM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 11:01am

I largely agree. I really loved John Doyle's chamber version, but hearing that score played by that orchestra . . . When they hit the first "Swing your razor wide" I thought every hair was going to come off my head.

I think as opera singers go, Terfel is a fine actor. And if he weren't paired with one of our most gifted actors, he'd doubtless seem even better. I can't say he found many layers or hidden depths to Sweeney, but he certainly hit all the emotional and dramatic marks, and I don't know that I've ever heard the part better sung (though I've always thought that if God sings, he'd sound like Len Cariou).

The rest of the cast was top notch. I often find the Beggar Woman really annoying (while acknowledging that she's kind of written that way), but Audra never was. I can't picture a better Beggar Woman.

My only quibble was the Beadle; he seemed wrong vocally, though he acted it just fine. But I felt the score lay in an uncomfortable place for him.

I liked the three young 'uns a lot. All pretty perfect.

Speaking of pretty perfect . . . As I said elsewhere, Emma Thompson was both the funniest and the saddest Mrs. Lovett I've seen. She seemed to have been beaten up by life--but never beaten! She laughs off hurts and clowns through tough spots and keeps going. Like many of us, I pretty much know this show backward and forward, but Thompson kept coming up with line readings that I never saw coming. I guess she's a mezzo, and a fairly powerful one, but as you say her top notes were a bit careful. I actually thought she could have put a little more power behind the high bits and been just fine, but with X amount of rehearsal and Y number of performances, she probably was following a wise course. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if the audience at her final performance didn't get an earful. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing her work up close when it's televised.

And kudos to Lonny Price: same piece, same orchestra, and a totally different "Sweeney" than he gave us before. There were many clever touches, both large and small.

All in all a spectacular evening.

Updated On: 3/7/14 at 11:01 AM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 11:08am

I was disappointed that I was (and am) unable to catch this, but I'm thrilled it's going to be recorded and can't wait to see what is obviously a brilliant performance from Thompson.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 11:17am

Enough good words cannot be said about Thompson. I didn't mind her upper notes...it was simply the negotiation between head and chest that needs a bit of work. But it certainly didn't mar anything. She was, in short, brilliant. I've now seen two of today's best British actresses (and really, I should just drop the word 'British') take on Lovett: Staunton and Thompson. Both were wonderful, and yet entirely different. The role is simply one of the best ever written for a singing actress, and I will never tire of the different Mrs. Lovett's in the world.

I agree with Reg on both Terfel's acting and Blumenkrantz's vocal limitation. You really kind of need a trick voice to pull off The Beadle. I also felt the same about Borle's high notes as Pirelli, but generally thought he was terrific. Mackey sang it beautifully...BEAUTIFULLY. And Audra is simply the gift that will never stop giving. She hurtles herself headfirst into the Beggar Woman and it's awesome.

I kinda want to have sexay times with Philip Quast. Stop judging bitches...it's just a daddy fantasy.

The only quibble I have with the staging is that I wish the concept of the opening carried through. The V for Vendetta-esque use of the bloody palm was really arresting, and I would like to see the idea of vigilante as folk hero explored with this piece.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 11:21am

I forgot Borle (he dies so early), but he was hysterical.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 12:08pm

And, as someone else said last night, how lovely to see an age-appropriate Anthony who still has his original face!

Oh...and if the adorable bearded, ginge-ish tenor from the ensemble is reading this, I could make you very, very, very happy. For one night or for life...your choice.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 5:36pm

"And, as someone else said last night, how lovely to see an age-appropriate Anthony who still has his original face!"

Ha!!!!



Keep those reviews coming throughout the weekend, folks. I just found out I will not be able to attend the final performance. Bummed, but grateful we'll get this on PBS later this year.

BTW, NYAdGirl, I know you stated your reasons for starting a new thread, but there are a few reviews from others who attended in the other threads--from PJ and others. Just flagging that in case you missed them.
Updated On: 3/7/14 at 05:36 PM

[Tsao5]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 6:26pm

For those who have seen it, can you list the ensemble members. I've checked the NYPhil sight and tried googl'ing, but there does not seem to be a cast list.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 7:00pm

So done out there knows and must share. I want to see who this ginger hottie is.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 7:44pm

From last night's Playbill

Anthony Hope - Jay Armstrong Johnson
The Beadle - Jeff Blumenkrantz
Pirelli - Christian Borle
Tobias Ragg - Kyle Brenn
Johanna - Erin Mackey
Judge Turpin - Philip Quast
Sweeney Todd - Bryn Terfel
Mrs. Lovett - Emma Thompson
Beggar Woman - ?

Ensemble:
Jill Abromovitz
Colin Anderson
Ryan Andes
George Lee Andrews
Allison Blackwell
Bradley Dean
Gina Ferrall
Jason Lee Garrett
Molly Gordon
Joy Hermalyn
Siri Howard
Jamie Jackson
Isaac James
Andrea Jones-Sojola
Eddie Korbich
Megan Loughran
Tiffany Mann
Michael McCoy
Justin Lee Miller
JC Montgomery
Karen Murphy
Jacqueline Petroccia
Patricia Phillips
Ashley Robinson
Amy Rogers
Jaime Rosenstein
Michael Seelbach
Ron Sharpe
Sam Tedaldi

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 7:46pm

I had my fingers crossed that "?" would turn out to be After Eight. Alas, it was Audra McDonald.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 8:29pm

Have they given an explication as to why Audra wasn't announced and why she's not performing on Saturday?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 8:42pm

More things I loved:

I loved Bryn Terfel's acting in his final moments, when he realized that it was his wife he killed. It was beautifully etched in pain, the kind of epic acting of human emotion that you see at the end of a Verdi/Shakespeare opera, like Otello or Macbeth. The complaints about his acting seem to be happening in a musical-theater vacuum that doesn't "get" what a singer like Bryn Terfel brings to the table.

I think Emma got it, And someone in that awful thread said they thought Patti was counting her blessings that she didn't appear with him, as if his performance were some kind of embarrassment or something. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I think Patti and Emma would both say that we are not likely to hear the role of Sweeney Todd sung that well in our lifetimes.

I also loved Jay Armstrong Johnson's Anthony and his rendition of the song "Johanna."

And attention should be paid to the distinguished Sondheim alumni who were in the chorus: George Lee Andrews from the original cast of A Little Night Music and Eddie Korbich from the 1989 revival of Sweeney Todd (a.k.a. "Teeny Todd").

Updated On: 3/7/14 at 08:42 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 9:19pm

I believe I "get" what Terfel brings to the table as Sweeney. I also "get" what he doesn't.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 9:41pm

I know you do, bolth!

But the discussion in that odious thread was happening as if he had no gifts at all.

There are a few young opera singers who may someday grow into the kind of singing actors who can deliver on both scores. In the meantime, what he did do was pretty awesome.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 9:44pm

I completely agree.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 9:45pm

Yeah, gotta say, I really appreciate all of the insight and historical context that you generally bring to the board, PJ. But, I don't understand the need to be dismissive and patronizing of those--both professional critics and regular theatergoers--who don't share your high estimation of Bryn Terfel's acting talent. Surely you don't feel that it invalidates your opinions if the vast majority of theatre critics and some of this board's posters disagree with you.

EDITED TO SAY:
Looks like you were already responding as I was typing this message and you've pretty much answered my question. So... carry on.
Updated On: 3/7/14 at 09:45 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 3/7/14 at 10:04pm

Something that hasn't been mentioned: Audra sang the Beggar Woman pretty bent over the entire time. Just as a feat of voice production, it was remarkable. (As was her entire performance.)

[Addison D.]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 12:19am

To quote PalJoey from a different thread on the same topic:

"Thrilling. Thrilling. Thrilling."

Moments that I have seen described elsewhere as 'contrived' or 'flat'--the way in which the cast 'trashes' the stage, for example--I found absolutely pitch-perfect.

Bryn Terfel was in magnificent voice, and I found his acting more--much more--than satisfying. His Sweeney is enraged, but there are many shades to his wrath as well as humor, pathos and sorrow.

I have no specific praise to add regarding Emma Thompson other than to agree that she was absolutely brilliant.

Audra remains, for me, a woman of almost impossible talent. She opens her mouth and makes magic. She gives me chills. Truly.

I'd like to give a shout-out to Kyle Brenn--a 10th-grader(!!!!) holding his own among giants as Tobey. A charming stage presence and a strong voice. What a thrilling experience for him to have.

Honestly, I'm in a kind of a rapturous daze...

Updated On: 3/8/14 at 12:19 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 12:35am

That is my favorite of your posts. Ever.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 12:37am

Mine, too.

(I had no idea he was a 10th grader!!! WOW! Perhaps had I read my Playbill...)

Updated On: 3/8/14 at 12:37 AM

[Addison D.]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 12:56am

And a final, wonderfully New York coda to the evening was the dude--as clever as that Girl Scout who set up her cookie wagon in front of the pot store in Colorado--playing the 'Sweeney Todd' score on his saxophone on the platform of the downtown 2/3 train after the show let out.

Thrilling...

Updated On: 3/8/14 at 12:56 AM

[HorseTears]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 1:18am

You guys are making me so jealous with these reviews. Oh, and, how exciting for the 10th grader! What a gig.

Quick question about the orchestra, 50 is massive by Broadway pit stands, but is a large chamber orchestra by classical standards and must be a little more than half of the NY Phil roster. Does anyone know how they do this? Do NY Phil musicians volunteer to be in these non-classical concerts? Do the principal musicians generally perform? Also, anyone know how many musicians performed in the Carousel concert? I must say, I think Alan Gilbert conducting is an enormous sign of respect for Sondheim. If only Mozart in the Jungle had been picked up--I could have consulted it for all these orchestral related question.