Sweeney Todd UK Tour w/ Jason Donovan review

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 7:33pm

Went to see the show's matinee in Richmond:
The show was everything I imagined it to be! It's very compacted and atmospheric. The music was very good of course.
Jason Donovan (Sweeney Todd): He was well.... he started quite nice. He started 'going to hell...' then forgotten his lines, paused awhile with his scary face, then continued. His singing was fine until 'Pretty Women'. He was totally a pain to listen to from then til the end of the Act! He struggles to reach the high notes/belt them out/sing them loud. His approuch for the role is more subtle and peaceful, unlike the very angry protrayals like George Hearn/Michael Creveris. He was, though the weakest amongst the whole cast, still ok. And I have to say, he does look the part though, and scares me abit when he raised from the coffin!
Harriet Thorpe (Mrs. Lovett): I realised that her costumes was different from the original one and the one Patti wore. She didn't have any dress, just tight pants all the way through. She was very good indeed. She could not really sing, but her acting does cover it alot. She did a fine job. I hated that scaled/calmed down version of 'Worst Pies In London', but thought she sang 'By The Sea' and other bits very well.
Greg Barnett (Anthony): Haven't heard of him before. He was very good. What a gorgeous voice! His 'Johanna' is the most touching version I have heard! This boy will definitely shine in the future!
Oliver Beamish (Judge): He was ok. Singing was fine, abit out of tune at times, acting quite wooden imo.
Peter Head (Beadle): Surprisingly young and handsome for the role I think. And he reminds me of the guy who is currently playing Frodo in LOTR musical! His singing was fine, reaches the high notes nicely. He did great, but I really don't think he should be playing the Beadle! And the poor thing cudn't be seen most of the time as he was playin the keyboards/piano! I didn't have a clue who he was for quite a while into the show!
Joanna Hickman (Johanna): WHAT A VOICE! that girl is absolutely gorgeous onstage. And when she opened her mouth to sing, I was so thrilled! She reaches the high notes with shrills. Me and Ian agreed that she was amazing simply because she could be singing and acting and then the next moment her hands will be playing the cello without having to look at it! Great chemistry between her and Greg's Anthony! Well done!
Gemma Page (Beggar Woman): I am not sure whether it's her. Because at the stagedoor, when i saw the woman who played the role, she said her name is not in the programme?! Anyway, the woman who played the beggar woman was alright. Her singing wasnt as disturbing as I was expecting it to be, and pretty young imo! She looks like an older sister of Johanna than her mother!
James Spilling (Tobias): Bravo, bravo! Great job! He totally captured the totally disturbed side of Tobias! His singing was great! And his acting was superb! One of the best things from the show! ANd reminds me of Alan Cumming.
Susannah van den Berg (Pirelli): Her singing was good. But cannot catch a word she sings! She has to improve on her Italian accent more I think! But well done.
I love the staging of the show. All the movements and things. Really great to see that the shelves aren't just there for the sake of it. The doll was lit at times when Johanna was singing and the cross too. I think at the execution of Pirelli, the plates at the very top were lit. I love how they use the ladder and the black coffin. Transforming it from one thing to another. But I didn't really like the white small coffin. Just didn't do it for me. And I find the killing scenes not THAT great. The whistle were shrilling, but WHY the pouring of blood? It made it look very weird and especially we have to wait til they finish pouring the whole thing, and they microphoned how the liquid flow... lucky I wasn't desperate for the loo! Anyway, the killing scenes worked best as it was in the DVD, and this one is just wasnt as effective imo. Another great thing is to see how talented each of the performers were to be acting/singing AND playing the instruements flawlessly! They totally deserve some applause! It worked so well, that I seem to have forgotten at times that were playing the instruments too! Overall, a well-put together production. Well done!
After the show, me and Ian went to the stagedoor. Ian was excitingly humming the tunes... it's his first Sondheim musical! How exciting! I have made another friend of mine a Sondheim fan! haha! The actors started to come out. Greg went straight past me and went to chat with friends, so I didn't disturb him nor get his picture. The others were really nice! A bunch of fans were crowding Harriet for around 15 minutes. I felt SO guilty to stop her and ask for her picture. I kept on apologizing and tellin her how great I thought she was. She was like 'it's ok deary, it's just I have to be quicker than the speed of light as I was with those guys for like... 10 mins!' Anyway, she was real nice!

Pictures (not nicely taken):
Peter Head (Beadle) & me

Joanna Hickman (Johanna) & me

Susannah van den Berg (Pirelli)

Jason Donovan (Sweeney) & me

Me & Harriet Thorpe (Mrs. Lovett)

From the show:

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 7:48pm

Thanks for the review (and pics!!!) I really can't imagine Jason Donovan as Sweeney...I wish they'd chosen another actor for the role.

Still, your review makes me want to hop on a plane to the UK! Toby reminds you of Alan Cumming?! That I'd LOVE to see! lol

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 8:22pm

'I wish they'd chosen another actor for the role.'

me too! I actually thought James Spilling have a nice voice and could actually sing Sweeney and prob act better than Jason!