Sweeney Todd

[fauxklore]

I subscribe to Signature Theatre and went today to see their new production of Sweeney Todd. It's always interesting to watch a musical that I know more or less every note of, as I pay attention to different things in that case. One obvious thing in this production is fairly minimal staging, which I thought actually enhanced the atmosphere of creepiness and gloom. They did not go short on the gore, however, and some members of the audience had trouble with that. I actually saw a few people walk out while the stage blood was flowing.

There were some interesting musical choices. I was pleased that Signature went for the full score, including the second half of "The Contest," all of "Parlour Songs," and (particularly unusual) Judge Turpin's rendition of "Johanna." I was less pleased with some of the orchestration. Particularly, the woodwinds in the quartet version of "Kiss Me" did not work for me, though I'm not sure I can articulate why.

As for the performances, I enjoyed them for the most part. I thought Sherri L. Edelein's comic timing as Mrs. Lovett was superb. Chris Sizemore (as the Beadle) and especially Sam Ludwig as Tobias have exceptional voices. I have some reservations about Erin Driscoll as Johanna, as she sounded a bit shrill at a few points.

I've always been impressed with Sondheim's ability to make the darkest material sympathetic and this production shows that off well. Assuming you can handle the gore, it's well worth seeing.

Comments

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine (shutterbug93, who regularly fly to LA and NY for theatre from HNL) is in LA this weekend, seeing MTW's Sweeney Todd (http://www.musical.org/). I mention that because that show also restored the full score, including the second half of the contest. This comes to mind because the LA Stage Blog mentioned restoring the contest in its review (http://www.lastageblog.com/2010/02/10/sweeney-spelling-bee-la-mirada-pasadena/) (which is worth reading, if only for the fact that I corrected them in the comments)

[ron_newman]

The first (and only) time I've seen Sweeney Todd was on the old 'Showtime' cable TV channel, way back in the early 1980s, with Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett. I think they taped a live production on the Broadway stage with a real audience.

At the time, I recall the idea of a 'musical tragedy' was considered quite daring and unusual.

[fauxklore]

I actually saw it on Broadway towards the end of the original run. I know George Hearn played Sweeney Todd, but I can't remember if Angela Lansbury was still Mrs. Lovett or if it was Dorothy Loudon.

Sondheim has hardly stayed away from controversial material - Assassins is a great show, but very disturbing.