I'm so excited for this. The score played by the Philharmonic! A dream for the ears. And I'm very much looking forward to Emma Thompson's portrayal of Lovett. And of course, anything will be better than that Godawful movie. For one, at least Sondheim's score will be done justice.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
No, I thought Johnny Depp was quite good. Sweeney has a reason to brood. It was playing Mrs. Lovett exactly the same that ruined the property. What fuels the show is Todd's irrational (though understandable) thirst for vengeance v. Mrs. Lovett's irrepressible optimism.
It wouldn't surprise me if the original approach to Lovett was a collaboration between Prince and Lansbury. Perhaps Sondheim really thought a different approach might be interesting. If so, he was wrong.
My original point is that when you have two dominating characters, playing them as psychic twins isn't a great approach.
Exactly. And even though Lovett is an optimistic character, she is a HUGE acting challenge. I remember a friend who had seen both Gypsy and Mame with Lansbury, and when they saw her in Sweeney they were astounded. The nuance she was able to bring to the role at the same time as being outrageous was phenomenal. Lovett has to be a huge, boistrous character and not a brooding, mumbling, lump.
"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir
I worked GYPSY and MAME with Lansbury in stock and was so impressed that nothing she did afterward surprised me.
But I agree that Lovett is the pinnacle of her work. Neither of the preceding works require her to be both warm and horrifying in such close juxtaposition.
And I think Lovett's relentless enthusiasm is a perfect metaphor for capitalism. I know Sondheim wants to avoid didacticism, but his work means SOMETHING. Why shouldn't it comment on the world around us?
I can't wait to watch this. I was lucky enough to get to see it live and it was stunning and reminded me why I fell in love with the piece as hard as I did when I first saw it at 15. It's an excellent production, incredibly well-sung and Emma Thompson's performance is brilliant.
Seattle's PBS is showing it on the 26th (at 10:30--don't they know some of us plan to leave the house on Fridays at 10:30?) Live From... programming doesn't usually air more than 10 days from place to place, so I think the promo may be wrong.