Sweeney Todd 2.0 - Carmello and Lewis - Page 3

[gleek4114]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 1:10am

BroadwayConcierge said: "Not sure if anybody's mentioned this yet, but the show's website says Carmello and Lewis are scheduled to be part of the show through August 13.

Already planning a return visit, specifically for Carmello. She is a revelation. 

 

"

That's just for right now. Carolee has stated she will be in the show through at least mid-August. She could end up extending.

[binau]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:51am

Sweeney is my favourite show. However, I have seen it far too many times (most recently before this at the NYPhil with Emma Thompson), and there are so many audio/video recordings that I must admit I am/was a little bit 'over it'. Pretty much the only thing I thought would ever ignite the spark again in the show for me was if Bernadette was playing Lovett. I didn't imagine that it was actually this production that would do this for me.

One of the challenges of seeing this show so many times, listening and watching so many great performances etc.. is that it can be hard to see what new things people bring to the role etc. I can't say that I found any performance particularly revelatory/new/interesting/different - though I did find the cast in general to be highly skilled or serviceable singers and actors. Carmello in particular is giving a very, very highly skilled high-energy performance with great humour, menace, vulnerability - and is able to both show off her amazing vocal skills at times while also very much slipping into the character speak-singing style characteristic of many Lovett performances.

What I do find to be a 'revelation' is how truly immersive this production is such that - at least sitting basically at the first position of the table opposite the pie shop bench - it made me feel so engaged with the text and music in a way I have never felt before seeing Sweeney, and probably never felt at the theatre generally in my life. I've seen and listened to this show a million times but basically being on stage with the actors while they are performing (what sounds like) 'raw'/with no microphones, was just quite frankly for me an amazing experience. The show flew by - it was GENUINELY, chillingly scary at points for me. It was like watching the show again for the first time. God, just thinking about the very warranted long silence and catharsis after the Judge's death makes me miss the show so much!

The audience interaction greatly added to the experience and humour. I must admit though when the actors would look directly at you it did take me slightly out of the moment because it's a bit awkward/difficult to know how to react except awkwardly smile and/or try to look the other way.

I don't know if this would be particularly interesting to see from far away or on the second level (otherwise, all you essentially have is just yet another scaled-down/tiny production of Sweeney). But if you can sit close, go and see this show!!

Updated On: 4/30/17 at 11:51 AM

[binau]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:51am

..

[binau]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 12:10pm

This has probably been discussed but I was surprised at a couple of cuts. The Judge's lette was spoken not sung. Did they have city on fire? I didn't mind because it sped up the action. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 12:11pm

I'm confused. Is City on Fire really cut? Some in the original thread said it is included. 

[binau]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 12:35pm

My memory could be failing me, so my question mark is becauese I need someone to confirm  - they definitely have all of the important parts of that scene but I don't actually remember the ensemble singing the "city on fire" lyrics etc. I must find an audio somewhere to check this, perhaps. 

Just searching someone said this earlier, which makes me feel I am not going crazy:

 

"

Sweeney Todd Off Broadway Performances
Posted by EthelMae 2017-03-01 23:06:02

 

 

Love this musical. Saw the original 27 times. Saw Dorothy Loudon when Angela Lansbury left, revivals with Beth Fowler, Patti LuPone.

But I just read that this new production has cut 2 songs: The Letter and City on Fire, maybe my two favorite moments in the show. I don't get that."

[amaklo]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 3:54pm

Just saw this last night.  Full disclosure: I didn't like the Doyle version, and I really liked the NY Philharmonic version, so I was very leery of seeing another "small" production but couldn't resist the chance to see so many performers I like up-close-and-personal. I loved it. On the whole it may be the best sung and acted of the many productions I've seen. I liked Norm Lewis before this, but wasn't sure he would be a good fit for Sweeney, but he was great. Carolee Camello is a wonderful Mrs. Lovett. Her scene with Brad Oscar as the Beadle near the end was stunning in the tension it evoked.  I also really liked how the judge's death was handled, and (as odd as it sounds) the extreme violence of Sweeney killing Mrs. Lovett.  It was a very powerful, scary demonstration of his insane rage at her betrayal. 

I have to disagree that you need to sit at a table to enjoy it.  We were in the rear benches on the floor and I don't feel we missed anything by not having the actors right in our faces. In fact, at one point Sweeney suddenly appeared next to us and bellowed, and just about scared us to death!  I wouldn't like to have been upstairs and recommend avoiding that if possible, as I think you would miss a lot.  I also wouldn't recommend this for someone seeing the show for the first time, because the staging might confuse someone not familiar with the different places where the action occurs.  I wasn't bothered at all by "The Letter" being spoken instead of sung, in fact I thought it was an interesting choice.  Finally, "City on Fire" was cut, but I didn't miss it.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 4:08pm

ljay889 said: "I'm confused. Is City on Fire really cut? Some in the original thread said it is included. "

Yes, "City on Fire" is cut. They have kept some elements of that musical sequence, such as Lovett's reprise of "Not While I'm Around" as they look for Toby, but the actual song is cut. I think the concepts behind this production would make it nearly impossible to stage.

 

Updated On: 5/1/17 at 04:08 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 4:11pm

Saw the show last night and loved it - fantastic!  We were in one of the "twisted view" seats, but they were perfectly fine. 

[canadian fan]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 4:45pm

Question......my wife and I are looking forward to seeing this in a couple weeks. We have NOT seen any iteration of a Sweeney show before. I have read a few people say this version may not be the best one to make your first Sweeney show. Should we "educate" ourselves with even the Johnny Depp movie before hand so we have some basic knowledge of the show before we see it?  I do know the bare minimum of what the story is about, but am not familiar with the music at all. Not overly concerned with understanding every nuance of the play as I think the immersive aspect is the thing here. Plus Norm & Carolee of course.

[binau]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 5:21pm

Personally I think there is no need to prepare yourself - maybe if it was the Doyle production :p. 

[Addison D.]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 5:57pm

Given the (wonderful) lack of amplification, the peripatetic nature of the production--actors everywhere--and the (glorious) complexity of the lyrics, I imagine it is likely you will miss some words.  I don't anticipate you will have difficulty following the key plot points and the drama and excitement of the production are unavoidable.  

[canadian fan]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 6:25pm

 Thanks Addison D & Qolbinau that's somewhat reassuring!  but I must admit, I have no idea what peripatetic means   haha.....

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 6:28pm

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peripatetic

[HSky]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 8:30pm

It was my first production of Sweeney (and then 2nd and 3rd...enjoyed the UK cast that much, I need to go see the new cast) and I had no trouble following along.

[coreman009]

Posted: 5/5/17 at 12:12am

 I apologize if it's been addressed, but does anyone know if Norm & Carolee have an exit date? I just bought tickets for August 13 and it never dawned on me that they might not be in it. I'm seeing it FOR them, so now I'm panicking. 

[gleek4114]

Posted: 5/5/17 at 1:27am

Chances are they would finish on a Sunday. All we know right now is mid-August MAYBE. They could end up extending.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/8/17 at 3:02pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Norm-Lewis-and-Carolee-Carmello-Get-Deadly-in-Immersive-SWEENEY-TODD-Off-Broadway-20170508

LOVE these photos!

[mpkie]

Posted: 5/8/17 at 11:37pm

I was planning to see this with a friend and may make a return visit to enjoy some meat pie and mash.

But I was fortunate enough to win the lottery and knowing this is one of the tough ones (have tried nearly every day since the beginning), I didn't pass it up.

Got seated in 2nd row of balcony, which was a crummy view, and it's very really obstructed - you miss a lot, and I definitely don't recommend it (unless you're paying the lotto/rush price and can't afford full price).

Funny that my only exposure is the Johnny Depp movie when it first came out in theaters (it was very so-so), that's basically all exposure I had and yet somehow a decade later, the plot came rushing back to me immediately at the start of the show. So I had no trouble following despite not being able to see well. Hardly any of the music was familiar but all of the plot was.

I echo sentiments that Norm Lewis was probably not a good fit for the role. His portrayal didn't quite jive for me, but I still am a fan of his voice, even if it didn't quite fit. Stacie Bono nailed it as the beggar woman, she may have been my fave, the rest of the cast was great but I definitely fell in love with Matt Doyle lol. I just remember hating the character and his songs in the movie but I loved him here. Professional theater people do wonders, y'all.

It's not my favorite show but I can only image what it was like on the shop floor, yet the audience in the balcony seemed to quite enjoy it. It did pique my interest and now I'd like to watch a fully staged production.

[PJPan]

Posted: 5/11/17 at 9:14am

I've never seen the show live but I saw it last night from the back row in the upstairs (on the aisle, it's not a bad seat). Carolee is giving a career performance - she easily stole the stole and was giving a funny, sad, and fully committed performance. It's the best I've ever seen her.

Norm was fine (always lovely to hear him live) but his voice was scratchy and his acting wasn't as lived-in as Carolee's (or even Matt Doyle's, who was quite charming). Having only seen the movie previously, I didn't think much of Johanna but "show" Johanna was a much more pleasant surprise.

I can't speak to the pies, but overall a very worthwhile production for what it's selling for.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 6:59pm

Norm is out tonight. 

[Luscious]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 7:25pm

I have tickets for July. Hoping Norm is out the night I see it. I've been hearing here and elsewhere that he's miscast and not very effective in the role. I'd rather see his understudy. If anyone sees it with his understudy, please let us know your thoughts.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 10:41pm

Will report more tomorrow. The understudy is amazing. BIG voice and personality. The production is thrilling. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 10:59pm

Lewis really does not have very good attendance in this show.  Has Carolee missed a performance?

Updated On: 5/14/17 at 10:59 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 5/15/17 at 7:34am

Saw it last night. Norm was out - his u/s David MIchael Garry was excellent. As for scariness - he had it and then some. We were seated in C1 & C2, in front of the pie counter. He bellowed "MOVE" to me to slide down as he was killing Pirelli next to me. I was startled as hell! (By the way, these are perfect seats. The guys sitting across from us, had their backs much of the action and were not nearly as good.)

This is my sixth Sweeney (previously: SF Symphony w Patti & NPH, Doyle Bway with Patti, Doyle tour with Judy Kaye, a small local production at ROLT, the SF Opera) So I've seen it very big very small and all sorts of variations and it was my favorite. It worked on all levels, was truly scary, sounded wonderful, and was very inventive. ...and, sorry Patti, Carolee is my fave Lovett now.

And the pie and mash was delicious!