Sweeney Todd - who's seen it?

[wickedbway]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:24pm

I'm going to see it tomorrow and I am SO EXCITED. Please - who ever has seen it yet - what did you think? I hope its good, but I haven't heard much about it.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:32pm

I saw it on December 11th. Personally, I would recommend staying away from anyone else's comments until after you see the show. Just go, take it all in, and then discuss your conclusions with us!!!

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:34pm

I saw it on November 16th. It is Brilliant. May I suggest you do a search on it here. You will find lots of reviews. I have one on another thread that I started while in New York.

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:35pm

I hope you either know the story already or can follow lyrics very well.

My review-

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=877326#1651246

[wickedbway]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:38pm

Is there an overview of the storyline in the playbill?

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:42pm

I'm not sure, but you really don't need it. I knew nothing about the show (except a couple of songs) and had no trouble following what was going on. I started to post a link to a synopsis of the original production, but realized that it might spoil some of the story. It REALLY is better NOT knowing anything. I was dumbstruck at the end. If I had read the synopsis before going, I don't think I would have had the same reaction.

EDIT: If you have questions (because Sondheim is VERY wordy), read up on it afterwards. Here is a link to something for afterwards:

http://libretto.musicals.ru/text.php?textid=516&language=1

Updated On: 12/30/05 at 12:42 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:44pm

My review is here:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=875780#1599821

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:45pm

I think it's important to know how to listen or to have a basic understanding of the story. It's DEFINETLY better if you don't know the ending, though.

There is no overview in the playbill.

Basic idea:

Sweeney Todd is an alibi used by a barber who was wrongly accused of a crime and deported from England for life. He returns to London and decides to take revenge on those who tore his family apart. Along the way, he meets Mrs. Lovett, a meatpie maker whose business is doing poorly. They learn to help each other out, but not without consequence.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:53pm

My reviews on my blog... www.wickedrocks.broadwayworld.com


It's quite a revelatory production if you ask me. However, it is CERTAINLY not for everyone.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 1:10pm

I've seen it twice, will be seeing it for the 3rd time on January 29th for the Actor's Fund performance and can't speak any more highly of this production than I alredy have! Its unbelievable!

[C is for Company]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 2:09pm

I saw it twice, opening preview and day after opening. It is remarkable. Going a third time the 11th, even missing some of school for it. I value Sweeney more than my education

[Broadway_freak]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 2:20pm

A good friend of mine sw it and said it was brilliant, amazing, astonishing. I'm sure you'll love it.

[Katecab99]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 2:59pm

absoltuley brilliant. although i feel that if you don't know enough about the story it could be slightly confusing. grab the angela lansbury/george hearn dvd first, and you'll enjoy it even more.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 3:31pm

I haven't seen the show before and hardly knew anything about it, and I understood it. You just have to listen to the lyrics very closely. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen.

[BroadwayRandy0711]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 3:44am

Sweeney Todd is amazing. I saw it on Dec. 16 and was just totally blown away. The audience really got into it as well. The applause given to them lasted a long time. It was truly an amazing show.

[chrrymn]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 9:46am

I saw it Oct. 14th. It totally blew me away. I'm seeing it twice more in June.

[bwayfreakgua]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:43am

I saw it from the rear mezzanine... and LOVED IT! What a great experience.

[sally1112]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:47am

I saw the show Dec. 22, I am working on a review but haven't had a chance to put it into words.
It is AMAZING! I took two friends and they were blown away. We had second row center seats, which helped make the show extra awesome.
Miss LuPone lived up to all my expectations, and maybe even exceded them!
A great night of theater.

[singingdude]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:20am

alright, someone help me here.

This is by far my favorite show. I went to see this revival this past week and took my wife to see it. She had never seen the show before and I was excited to show this to her.

I found it to be a very strange production. I may be biased toward the original Len Caroiu/Angela Landsbury production (saw it on video at Lincoln center). I felt that the performers pulling out instruments in the middle of songs was very distracting for me. I also found it annoying that the performers wouldnt sing to each other half the time. I felt this made it hard for the characters to connect with each other.

My wife was confused at the plot at times, being that there really is no set (the performers moving the big coffin around in the middle of the scenes) and very little in the way of costumes.

I did enjoy the performances although I think their effect would have been enhanced with a complete staging and orchestra. I dont feel like I "got anything more" out of the show watching this revival.

Could someone please explain to me why this show is considered so brilliant? I was sitting next to a scholarly older fellow who couldnt stop raving about the production. When I asked him what made it so special, all he would tell me is "It just works!"

Anyway, thats my take on the show. I did this show about 8 years ago at a local production (played Anthony) and ever since, it has been my favorite show. I just feel like this production was to "avant Garde" and "artsy fartsy" for my tastes. The actors work incredibly hard however.

PS, Why such a high ticket price? I felt a little gyped at paying $101 bucks a ticket without any orchestra, sets and minimal costumes! I hope they were paying their performers handsomely as they played the role of singers, orchestra and stage hands!!

Tom

[insomniak]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:31am

If you want big, fancy sets and technical mishmash, go to WICKED. If you want a brilliantly acted, sung and organized show, see Sweeney again with an open mind. If you focus on the characters, which are the important part, you'll be swept away by their story.

Instead of asking, "why isn't this a photocopy of the original?" ask yourself what was gained by altering certain elements.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:33am

I really liked it, but I was unfamiliar with the show when I saw it, and I honestly felt sort of like I was cheating myself by not knowing a traditional production. I think I would've appreciated more what they did with this production if I had seen the original DVD, or something. I also would've gotten more out of it if I had known the music before seeing it, but I think that's true for a lot of Sondheim.

[singingdude]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:48am

Im not saying I wanted a carbon copy of the original. Im just saying I feel the show would be enhanced if they had a set and costumes (and orchestra) for the show. Im not against new interpretations, I just dont feel this interpretation made the characters any deeper or more profound (do they need to be?). Sometimes I wonder if the show was done naked, with everyone standing on their heads, would this enrich the production? This way we wouldnt have costumes getting in the way of the rich characterizations.

Seriously though, could someone tell me how the actors playing their own instruments and a lack of a set makes this a more rewarding experience? Im trying to keep an open mind here and I really wanted to like this production.

Tom

[TinyDancer]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:15pm

Updated On: 2/23/06 at 12:15 PM

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:23pm

Great, amazing show - you'll love it. It's one of the best I've ever seen.

I went into the show knowing the basic plot and ending and I was STILL surprised by the conclusion - that's how swept up in it I was!

It was truly one of the most stunning shows I've ever seen.

[singingdude]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 4:12pm

Tinydancer,

thanks for the response. I totally agree with you, and am not concerned with the price of the ticket. The comment about the high ticket price was truly tongue in cheek, even though I reread it and it didnt come across that way.

That being said, I dont question the brilliance of the musical work itself, or the cast that performed it. Im trying to understand what makes the show so special? I think that it is a good "concept" to have the singers double as the orchestra and thought the performances were for the most part, very good (extra kudos to Michael, Patti and Manoulo), but what Im not understanding is, what was the purpose?

The guy sitting next to me (who I totally respect his opinion) told me that the concept started in Great Britian and the reason the actors doubled as the orchestra is because there wasnt enough money to get an orchestra. I dont know if this is true, but to me, performing it in this way is a bit "gimmicky" and did not add anything to the atmosphere of the musical. To me, This would have been more effective in a small music box size theater but unfortunately I was 6 rows from the back of the mezzanine (again, for 101 bucks!) at the Eugene O'Neill!

I just found myself becoming so distracted by the instruments and the fact that they rarely sing to each other (my favorite parts in this production were "A little priest", and "Not while Im around", and I think the reason these were so effective for me was because the characters addressed each other, rather than some obscure staging, facing the audience.

And again, I guess most of this becomes personal opinion. I would have paid double the $40 admission price to see Mandy Patinkin alone on stage last year. Would I have paid triple the price? Probably not. I think money does come into play when seeing a broadway show. Would I have been equally annoyed if I paid full price to see Dance of the Vampires? Probably.

Back to my original question, I am really trying to find out what moved people so much in this production? I guess I feel that a lot of the atmosphere is lost in this new staging.

I welcome others opinions on this show, and I would consider seeing it again, because I feel like I must be missing something here.

tom