The Sweeney Todd Tour slashes through Pittsburgh!! (Review)

[sfs1414]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 11:11pm

The tour is playing in Pittsburgh this week and I just arrived home a few minutes! I wanted to write this review while it was still fresh in my mind.

It is playing at Heinz Hall which seats about 3,500 or so. So the house is a bit big for the show. But luckily I had front row seats so my view was great. I just felt bad for the poor people who must have been confused in the balcony or back of the orchestra haha. The set looked so tiny on the stage. They have about 10 feet of masking on each side of the set.
The show is in great shape. Some tempos have changed from the Broadway production but other then that, everything is the same.

Judy Kaye: (Lovett) She looks great and sounds great. She nails every joke and articulates so well that none of Sondheim's glorious lyrics are lost in the huge theatre. Basically...she nails it.
David Hess: (Sweeney) I tried very hard to enjoy his performance. But he was a human tornado up there. He stumbled around like he was drunk and was just way to over the top. And his voice sounds over used and tired. Almost all of his notes in my favorite song were flat. The Johanna Quartet. It was hard on the ears. He had a few good moments. But for the most part..this part is just not for him.

Edmund Bagnell (Tobias): Has a fine voice but dare I say he plays the part a little too crazy. It was just not real. It was almost cartoonish. Nothing subtle about his performance at all. And I think he would have made a stronger connection with the audience if he had toned it down a bit.

Keith Buterbaugh: (Turpin) Does a great job. Sounds great and his pretty women harmonies sounded great. Although he had trouble hitting some of the lower notes.

Diana DiMarzio: (Beggar Woman) Just as great as she was on broadway. I love the way she moves about the stage. And there is a part during the Johanna Quartet where she just belts CITY ON FIRE!! I friggin' love it. It gives me chills every time! She stills seems fresh and works hard! Great job!

Benjamin Eakeley: (The Beadle) The sexiest Beadle I've ever seen. haha. He is tall with his hair greased back. He looks slimey and sings very well. When he just stands in the coffin it is very creepy.

Benjamin Magnuson: (Anthony) His voice is just glorious. I love him on the recording and he was great on Broadway and he does not disappoint here either. His voice just soars during Johanna. I love it.

Lauren Molina: (Johanna) I love watching her. I found my eyes going toward her throughout the show. She is so deep in character. It is great to watch her eyes twitch and watch her reactions to what is going on around her. And she has this creepy smile that is plastered on her face for a lot of the show. She looks and sounds great. She IS Johanna.

Katrina Yaukey: (Pirelli) Takes most of the humor out of the part. She sings well but is just a bit too serious I felt.

And how about John ArboJonas Fogg) What a trooper. haha He is still slapping that bass like no other. (Pardon the crazy for you pun,)

I hope you all get make it to see the tour sometime soon! It is a might fine night out!!
Updated On: 1/31/08 at 11:11 PM

[fossemoves]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 11:18pm

I saw the tour in Dallas and was disgusted with David Hess. He destroys the role.

I will say I don't aggree with your opinion on Tobias. I thought he was just lovely. Focus, Frenzy, Finese! He had it all.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 1/31/08 at 11:37pm

Disgusted is such a strong word.

[lovinlovett]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 2:33am

Ugh. We have tickets in Atlanta for May. Now I'm regretting the purchase.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 9:00am

Heinz Hall is neat. I have always enjoyed seeing shows there.

I am happy for Judy Kaye (LOVE her), Ben Magnuson, Lauren Molina and Diana DiMarzio. Glad to see them still in the show, doing well and enjoying their characters.

lovinlovett, never regret having tickets to or going to see any live theatre

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 9:32am

sfs1414 - you have me so excited now!! I'm sitting front row orchestra pit on Sunday night for the final performance in Pittsburgh and I can't wait. Thanks for your review!

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 12:21pm

Why would one persons slightly negative review make you regret purchasing tickets?

The tour may not be the greatest thing ever, but it's still worth seeing and a fun night out.

[sfs1414]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 1:13pm

sbflyfan-
I'll be there on Sunday night too! I'll be up front as well! I hope you enjoy it! The theatre is only at 40% capacity for Sunday. I'm guessing because of the super bowl? So let's really cheer the cast on! haha

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 1:51pm

I agree that Hess was the weakest part of this production, but I think that "disgusted" is a strong word. I still thought that his voice was strong and he did project well. I agree that much of his performance was too "over the top," with very little nuance.

This show is a must-see because of the fabulous Judy Kaye. She is nothing short of amazing. Her singing is brilliant (and amazingly clear) and her acting is impeccable. Every theatre fan should try to see this phenomenal actress in this role!

Also, the more I think about it, the more intrigued I am about Doyle's staging. It isn't necessarily something I would want to see for many shows, but it does work for this one.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 2:48pm

sfs1414 - I definitely will be cheering the cast on. As soon as that door slams shut I'll be giving them a standing ovation.

If I'm able to meet at least Judy Kaye and Ben Magnuson afterwards it will be a dream come true. Just have to find the stage door. I haven't been to Heinz Hall since I was very young.

Yeah, the superbowl will probably keep some people away but Sweeney is way more important to me than a football game. hehe.
How did you find out about the amount of tickets sold?

[sfs1414]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 4:05pm

sbflyfan- When you exit the theatre walk to your right and stay on the sidewalk and follow the building..then the stage door is right there! You can't miss it.

One of my good friends works at the box office. Hence my return to the show on Sunday. She told me about how weak the sales were.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 7:03pm

The talk about David Hess is making me pretty happy that I got to see his understudy (David Garry who was absolutely fantastic) when I made the trip up to Boston last year. I'm debating whether I'm going to go to the Chicago or Denver runs later this year, so it's good to hear that the tour is still in good shape. I have to agree with your assessment of Lauren Molina because when I was watching in Boston I too kept looking back to her, which I had never done during the multiple times that I saw the revival on Broadway. She is just so into the show, the manic way she's playing and at times it looks like she's crying when her character is off-stage. Just brilliant.
Updated On: 2/1/08 at 07:03 PM

[broadwaybaby221]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 7:16pm

I agree with you on Ben Eakeley, he was so sexy. Haha.

The only problem I found in Hess' performance was his need to be in constant motion. It seemed like he never could stay still for more than two seconds and it became very distracting.

Lauren Molina's Johanna is brilliant. I also found myself glancing her way throughout the show.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 8:03pm

I'm seeing the matinee tomorrow. Sad about David Ness. But I'm seeing the show for Beakley.

[broadwayrules]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 8:25pm

I saw the show on tour, and I saw David Garry as Sweeney Todd and he was really good. Judy Kaye was amazing, and I really liked Edmund Bagnel. I really enjoyed the production as a whole.

[broadwayrules]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 8:25pm

I saw the show on tour, and I saw David Garry as Sweeney Todd and he was really good. Judy Kaye was amazing, and I really liked Edmund Bagnel. I really enjoyed the production as a whole.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 9:37pm

Eakeley's got groupies now?

Jeebus, lol...

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 2/1/08 at 9:43pm

Thanks for your review!

[delucad15]

Posted: 2/3/08 at 9:21pm

I saw the sunday matinee it was outstanding

Judy Kaye- she was amazing, i liked her a lot better than patti lupone and maybe even Angela Landsbury as well. She just did an amazing job

David Hess- I agree he did seem like he was drunk during Epiphany but i didnt think he was all that bad

Edmund Bagnell- He was a little over the top on his craziness, but overall a great job

Keith Buterbaugh- for some reason he reminded me more of a president than as a judge. I guess it was the way he looked but still a great job

The original revival cast members were also great, I especially loved Lauren Molina

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 8:49am

Hehe add me to the list of Benjamin Eakeley groupies. He was an incredible performer, and VERY nice after the show.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 2/4/08 at 9:19am

He's always had groupies.

The show was ok. I mean, i realized I don't Sweeney Todd. Just a really weird show. And I know a lot people liked the idea of the actors playing their own instruments and I thought it is a good idea, but watching it was a bit distracting. And the set was a little bit too minimal for me. But the actors were great!

David Hess: He wasn't brilliant but he was really really nice after the show, signed everyone's playbill and took photos with everyone.

Judy Kaye: She was fantastic. Great voice, got all the jokes.

Edmund Bagnell: I actually like him the best. He kept in character throughout the whole thing, unlike other people.

Ben Eakeley: He was great, when he was onstage. He was at the piano the whole time with his back to the audience. It sucked. But when he was onstage, he was great!