"Sweeney Todd" - get familiar before?

[Act0r721]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:18pm

I am headed off to NYC on the 25th and have tickets to "Rent" and will be doing discount tickets of whatever I can get after that. I am hoping to score "Sweeney Todd," though.

My question is, should I listen to the music and get familiar with it before or will I enjoy it just fine without knowing it beforehand?

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:21pm

My first exposure to Sweeney was the concert in SF. I had only heard a few bits and pieces of the score, and was not overly familiar with the story. If you can stand it, I'd say wait and see it fresh in the theatre. After all, if you were seeing the original run, you wouldn't have been able to "spoil" it, right?

[mabel]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:22pm

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was totally unfamiliar with Sweeney Todd before I saw it in December (other than a handful of songs: Worst Pies in London, Johanna, Not While I'm Around) and I was glad that I went in not knowing it. While I think it'd be an entirely different experience going into it being intimately aquainted with the music, I do think it was interesting to enjoy it without knowing for sure what was going to happen. Now I've got the cast recording and I can go back and see it again from a different perspective, but I think it's still thoroughly enjoyable even w/o knowing the music ahead of time.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:29pm

Someone asked a question like this recently and some people had some interesting things to say:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=889652

My opinion? See it unprepared and then do your "research" afterwards. Allow yourself to see this show without any preconceptions, but don't not familiarize yourself with the other productions afterward. Unless, of course you hate it, which you shouldn't.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:39pm

Agreed. I saw it with no preparation and understood it fine (although the more elaborate production on the DVD clears up some things that were confused by the minimalistic staging). There's some things you WON'T want to spoil.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 5:07pm

I also saw this version in December as my first time with Sweeney amd I thouroughly enjoyed it. I always try to go into shows not knowing the story or the music, I think it adds to the experience. This show has alot of twists, so it is fun to go in blind. Be aware though, it can sometimes be hard to understand and the accents can also sometimes make it difficult to get but if you pay attention you should get the jist.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 5:17pm

Knowing the music is not needed. But I feel having an overview of the basic plot and characters is important.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 5:20pm

Why, ljay? Just curious. Why would someone want to spoil themselves on the plot?

I think people are getting too used to the internet age, when everything they want to know about a show/tv episode/movie is online...including their opinions.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 5:36pm

I have to agree (given how the story plays out) that it's better to go in unprepared. When I saw it the 2nd time, I did with a different perspective of all of the characters and it actually added to my enjoyment. However, I was happy for my first viewing that I knew VERY little about Sweeney.

By the way, if you go on broadwaybox.com, there is a discount code to get seats for $65. I sat 10th row center orchestra the 2nd time I went with this code . . . they were GREAT seats.

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:24pm

I always try to go into shows not knowing the story or the music, I think it adds to the experience.

Same here. There's something to be said for the thrill of discovery, particularly in a show like Sweeney where there are such powerful moments of revelation. Then once you've seen a show and enjoyed it, it's fun to go back and try to pick up on the little clues you may have missed the first time around now that you know what's coming.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:56pm

Yep, I even have a "rule" about shows I've already seen. If I know I'm sure I'll be seeing it again, no matter hor far off, I'll stop listening to the cast recording until then.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 6:57pm

my friend just saw it yesturday and callled me saying,

"why did you reccomend that show? it was awful"

she admitted to liking the music and staging but i think she woudld've gotten more out of it had she been familiar with the material before... sweeney is just so complex

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 8:11pm

Yes -- most Sondheim is complex. However, there is SO MUCH going on with most Sondheim shows that, not matter how much you "prepare" you still won't get it all. I feel the TRUE way to appreciate Sondheim is to perform one of his pieces. Every night there is a new discovery and you continually feel you are learning more about the characters.

Nevertheless, I still feel that the first experience of any work should be as fresh as possible. Even if plot points aren't given away, you should even try to avoid reviews because they may color your feelings about the performances. Immerse yourself after seeing the production the first time.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 8:36pm

I hadn't heard any of the songs and watched the DVD and loved it.