Thoughts on Sweeney from a pit geek

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 11:37pm

Okay, I was very anxious and excited for this production as such a pit geek. Naturally, I was excited to see the instruments integrated into the production, played on the stage, visible, etc. Of course I was also anxious if by simplifying the score or using actor-musicians if the music would be compromised.

I am very pleased to say that my worries were completely unfounded, the production, which I saw this afternoon, was wonderful. I sat in the front row to be as close to the instruments and follow them as much as possible, which I did. However, I would like to advise...I was seat 6, 3rd seat on the right...it really seemed/felt like partial view. Sometimes I couldn't see center stage action or even who was singing. Again, since I watched the instruments often, I was fine w/ this, but do definitely have to go back to try to draw my gaze elsewhere...but those seats are full-price, and I really felt they were partial-view, anything I think all the way on the sides I'd say the same for, just a general heads-up.

Anyway, the quality of the playing was fantastic--all the more wonderful for me to see them actually playing. Made me really appreciate the difficulty in playing an extremely high note on the clarinet very quietly. But...the strings sometimes had to sing and play at the same time...I can't even walk and play my clarinet at the same time...to seemlessly go back and forth from playing to singing, to go from such different instruments like accordian to flute, or violin to clarinet, it all just amazed me. And their acting and singing was of equal quality. Just...wow. That's all I kept saying, amazing and wow.In terms of the instruments and the music, it certainly does the score full justice and any musician or fan of the orchestral aspects of musicals should not miss this.

And well, very briefly, having said that, I loved the production itself. I could see where it may be difficult to follow if you didn't know anything about the show, fortunately I saw the DVD. The production as a whole being simpler seemed darker, though I'm still debating if it was scarier. The very last image I saw was the only time I got really scared, maybe it was just everything really hitting me, I don't know.

They made great use of the staging, intertwining having all necessary instruments covered during songs, having the players move around to be part of the action still and help move the sets and all...wonderful direction.

All of the actor/singers were wonderful, particularly Michael's voice...but Patti really struck me b/c she portrayed a very different Mrs. Lovett than Angela Lansbury. Angela was just so cooky and such, while Patti played a much darker one...like I kind of liked Angela's Mrs. Lovett(as in liked the character, didn't want bad things to happen) than Patti's. Though I do feel it may be more of even what the character is really like, I don't know. She definitely did a great job of bringing a fresh interpretation.

Kudos to everyone, this really is a wonderful production, and once more just have to reiterate how amazing the musicians were.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 11:43pm

Dammit! While reading this I realized I forgot to buy something in the store today.

foack!

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/30/05 at 12:48pm

wickedrentq- I can't believe your seat was full price! When I saw Sweeney I sat in the third row, right side, seat 12 (six seats in from the center orch aisle, but there were still two seats after mine to finish off the row), and I bought my seat as a partial view at the box office (paid the rear mezz price). I guess you were sitting closer to the center orch aisle than I was, but I too would've figured all those seats up the side in that area were partial view.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

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

I'm glad you liked it! I'm seeing the show again this coming Saturday night. Front row, center seat. Cant wait.... After a very long day of rehearsals for Hayden's Mass in Time of War, there is no place else I would rather be.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/30/05 at 1:20pm

Analeka, damn, again I was okay w/ it, but I paid the $70 discount. Then again, I chose that seat, I would have gotten something else if I didn't want to be close for the instruments, so again I did enjoy that view and shouldn't be complaining, and hopefully will see it again from the cheaper rear mezz.

One more thing I didn't even think about...they didn't have a conductor! They all played together on tempo just...that's...wow...amazing. I still am in shock over the talent that was exhibited in musicianship at this production.

[roquat]

Posted: 10/30/05 at 1:45pm

wickedrentq--how on earth did they handle the choral transitions between scenes? I've been wondering this since I heard about this production. As if playing AND singing this virtuoso score at the same time (without a chorus or a conductor) weren't enough, they also had to move scenery?

If this productions runs, I'd hate to have to cast replacements.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 10/30/05 at 3:33pm

roquat--by choral transitions, are you referring to the cast having to move some things around while chorus sings and such? Well by moving scenery it certainly wasn't as complicated as moving scenery in a huge show, but still, they had to move around the coffin and a sheet and blood buckets and white robes and stuff, and that was fine. I'm pretty sure no one ever did all 3 at the same time, if it was a transition sing some would sing as they moved, or someone could have just brought the robe in before Sweeney was going to kill someone. But what was great is they even moved things in character, or at least with the mood of the piece. Very slow, exact, creepy movements, I almost want to say the movements were choreographed, as if two people were moving the sheet for instance, there was a rhythm within. Really magnificent.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 10/30/05 at 3:36pm

the movements are chorographed to be insync with each other. Pouring the blood at the same time, moving the coffin ect...

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/30/05 at 11:56pm

yeah wickedrentq I was amazed at how well they managed to keep the music all together- I did notice Donna Lynne Champlin giving a signal two times, but that was it, the rest of the time the music just all started/ended/stayed together like magic. :)

and since I mentioned Donna Lynne Champlin- there was a Sweeney piece in today's Post, talking about the playing and acting and singing that they all do, with the greatest quote from her, I'm totally paraphrasing here but it was something along the lines of "my most difficult moment is getting Patti LuPone up on the coffin, with those crazy four inch heels of hers- the running joke is that if anything happens to Patti that I'm going to have to turn in my Actors Equity card right there." Random, but it cracked me up.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

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

Ha ha! I read that article! I adore Donna Lynne, and that quote absolutely cracked me up!

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 10/31/05 at 2:36am

I was also pleasantly surprised by how good the score sounded. I've heard Sweeney with a small orchestra before, and this sounded much better than that production. Obviously, their lack of a conductor restricted them in a few places, but it was really quite good. I objected to the production in other ways, but it succeeded in one place I thought it would fail.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 10/31/05 at 8:30am

That quote is hilarious! Donna is hilarious and kind to match!! I do have to say that when I saw it for the second time, I got nervous when I saw Patti trying to get up on the coffin.