Broadway Legend Joined: 12/3/04
i noticed in pictures of the original cast of sweeney that tobias(ken jennings) wears one regular shoe and one shoe to make a shorter-leg taller. was this part of the character, or something unique to the actor, ken jennings? it seems like it would be pretty hard to fake... in to concert version, tobias (neil p h) doesn't have one. just curious. Updated On: 12/19/04 at 03:08 AM
Good question. I don't know, but StickToPriest might...
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
Since SticktoPriest is probably in bed at this hour (as I should be as well), I'll answer that the "special" shoe was, as I recall, not specific to Ken Jennings, but was part of Hal Prince's concept of the character. Not sure how that shoe was done for Sweeney, but I do know that I've seen Jennings play several other roles in plays and musicals on Broadway and elsewhere and I don't remember him ever again wearing such a shoe.
I worked with Ken Jennings off broadway several years ago and he has two perfectly good legs of equal length...no need for a special show - so my guess would be that it's a choice for character. If you watch the video of the concert version with Neil Patrick Harris, you'll notice that he limps and turns one foot in and walks on the side of it, which is obviously also a character choice.
I think with Ken Jennings they gave him a regular shoe and the other shoe because one of them was bigger than the other and created the effect of a limp. I think STP is a better person to ask than me.
"i noticed in pictures of the original cast of sweeney that tobias(ken jennings)..."
WAIT A MINUTE-
I thought Ken Jennings was a software programmer.
THE TV LIED TO ME!
Lol. I'm sure that Ken Jennings can sing and act.
I always thougth Toby was supposed to have a club foot and the shoe allows to actor to focus on elements other than creating a limp.
Videos