Sweeney Todd and Rent

[sanda]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:36pm

I wrote two short reviews. My grammar sucks and I am trying to improve it. If you find any errors, PLEASE let me know. I love grammarqueen.

Sweeney Todd
2/17/06

I took bus to NYC on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, the traffic was terrible and I missed the lottery of Rent and DRS just a few minutes. So my friend and I went to Sweeney Todd box office. It was sold out! Unbelievable. In such cold season. Well, we had no choice but buy SRO.

This production is high on my wish list because: first, Sweeney Todd is my favorite Sondheim show and I have never seen it live; second, most reviews I read about this production are great; third, I want to see Patti Lupone doing Mrs.Lovett. I heard so much great things about her, yet I only watched her in “Regina” which is, unimpressive to me. Thus I want to give another try.

What do I think about the show? Mmm, I like it, but was not overwhelmed. Maybe I hold expectation too high. Maybe I was a little tired. Maybe SRO wasn’t a good choice for this show at all.

I like the idea of letting actors play instrument. And the simple and abstract set and concept are great for a regional production. Come on, look at how much money they can save for this. The actors are really talented. I especially enjoyed Johnanna’s cello, Tobias’s violin and Beatle’s piano. And the music of “Johnanna” and “Pretty Woman” sounded more beautiful live than any recordings.

The problem I feel about this production is that it wasn’t scary. Well, maybe it wasn’t supposed to scary at all. But that is what I expected. To me, Sweeney Todd is one of the scariest shows and that is what fascinates me. I used to watch the concert video which is kind of simple on the set as well. But George Hearn’s Sweeney scared the hell out of me. And I missed the big orchestra and chorus. If I have seen Hal Prince’s production before, I may enjoy something different. Unfortunately I don’t have the chance and this production didn’t meet my expectation fully.

Rent
2/18/06

I wasn’t a Rent fan. I saw the show twice on tour and the movie. I like it a lot but it wasn’t a show which can make me go back to see it again and again. And Roger’s always my least favorite role. However, when I read the news that Tim would be back from Britain for this show, I knew I had to see it again. If there is one Roger whom I may like, that would be Tim. Because I am a Les Miz fan and Tim’s Marius is one of my two favorites. (The other is Peter Lockyer.)

My friend and I tried the lottery and I won! I am never good at any kind of lottery. But finally, I won! BB 114. Perfect! I can watch every detail of Tim.

I came for Tim and I would focus on him. Ok, I only saw Dan in Rent tour and Adam Pascal in the movie before so I cannot make a lot of comparison. I had to say among the three Rogers, Tim is the only one whom I believe, I care and I like. About Dan and Pascal, one thing about Roger bothers me. I didn’t realize what it was until I watched Tim. It is that I feel those two trying to acting cool. Tim’s Roger wasn’t cool at all. He was confused, angry, emotionally fragile and most of all, scared. He’s scared to death. Matt Caplan’s Mark is lively, sharp and cool. He can be cool because he’s young and healthy. He can afford it. Not Roger. For God sake, he’s dying. If I am dying I couldn’t act cool either. I will be like a coward, hiding and pitying myself for the rest of my life. Because Dan and Pascal’s cool way, I didn’t feel the fear of Roger and I didn’t sympathize him. And his way of treating Mimi only made me mad. On the contrary, Tim’s Roger, for the first time, made me understand his fear, care for him and forgive his attitude. I used to feel cold about “your eyes”. Only when Tim sang it and acted it, I was totally moved.

Mimi is fine but I prefer tour’s. Antonique acted great. But I felt her voice a bit too harsh. The Mimi I saw on tour got such an amazing soft and sexy voice that I felt spoiled.

Matt Caplan is charming. I have never seen a bad Mark though.

I am so happy for Ava. I saw her on tour and now she’s on Broadway. She is always great.

Collins is always my favorite role. Mark Richard Ford got this powerful voice like a train. However, my heart belongs to Marcus Paul James. I saw him on tour and I am so happy to see him on Broadway now. In fact I kept following him for the whole show. And I have to say, make Marcus as Collins on Broadway now! MRF’s voice is loud. But Marcus’s booming deep voice is magic. It is so rich and dark like the silky chocolate. MRF’s “I will cover you” brought the house down yet Marcus’s “I will cover you” brought my tears down.

When I saw the tour, I always felt the music was so loud that it was hard to hear the lyrics clearly. Not this time. The chorus of “Christmas Bell” was amazingly clear. Not like the mess I heard on tour. This is my third Rent experience and it is the one I am most “IN” to it.

After the show I met Tim. God, how can my two favorite Marius both are two biggest sweethearts I ever met? We had this long and exciting chat. He talked about how excited he felt doing Rent on Broadway. How happy he is now since Ruthie came to NY with two lovely babies. How hard the vocal demand was when he did Rod Stuwart’s “Tonight is the night” night after night. It almost killed his voice. And he told me he once was offered Enjolras in London for Les Miz 20 Anniversary. Unfortunately he had to turn it down. I asked him if he would consider doing Les Miz again on Broadway. He said he would be more than happy to do it if the time was right. He gave me this big hug three times.



Updated On: 2/20/06 at 12:36 PM

[iheartcheyenne123]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:42pm

Wow, great review on Tim. I'm seeing him tonight. Thanks