Sweeney Todd in Concert

Rating:
Summary: It was awesome
Review: It's my new favorite video, creepy and hysterical at the same time. The performances are incredible. Well worth buying.

Rating:
Summary: Almost Perfection!
Review: It's so nearly flawless. Practically without imperfection. George Hearn is superb. Nobody but Hearn can do Sweeney like he can. Neil Patrick Harris is the perfect Tobias. But (and this is a rather large "but") Patti LuPone's characterization of Lovett was ghastly and horrifically unlikable. I was especially disappointed in her ersatz cockney accent that seem to have an attention span all its own. LuPone has an exceptional range and can certainly belt out a Broadway tune. But (and there's that insidious "but" again) this was not the role for her. Just cuz ya can sing the song, duzn't mean ya can play the part! Treat yourself--see Angela Lansbury's Lovett. It's unforgettable!

Rating:
Summary: Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd
Review: Let's start with what's wrong here. Not much. Of course, Patti Lupone isn't quite right as Mrs. Lovett. She plays her hard and manipulative, with none of the misguided vulnerability that made Angela Lansbury's interpretation both more likeable and more evil. George Hearn hams it up now and then as Sweeney, but he clearly has command of the role. Both he and Lupone, whose approaches couln't be more varied, actually work quite well together and you believe in their evil alliance. The supporting performances are uniformly excellent, especially the surprising Neil Patrick Harris as Tobias. What's most remarkable about this DVD is the presentation of the show. This is no mere "in concert" performance, but a pared down version of the actual musical, uniquely staged around an orchestra and chorus. If you've never seen "Sweeney Todd", this is the SHOW folks, not a reasonable facsimile. Watching it was an absolute pleasure from start to finish, and there's not one moment that is less than riveting. Jule Styne once said that "Sweeney Todd" is the best example of writing for the musical theater, and he was not wrong. One is reminded of the marvel of this show throughout it's presentation here. There is no better example of the Broadway musical, or American music for that matter, than "Sweeney Todd". This version does Sondheim proud, but you don't have to be a fan to savor the wonder of this work.

Rating:
Summary: Just as good as the original...
Review: Maybe even better. What the original show lacks, this has, and vise versa, but you have to watch the original one first in order to fully appreciate this revived and revised version. For example, the original has all the sets, costumes, and special effects, but the sound isn't really all that great. This DVD focuses mostly on sound and music quality, but you have to use your imagination in some of the action scenes. Certain things are strictly representational. First of all, there's no blood, and no barber chair with a trap door. Mostly when the actors get killed they just walk off the stage, but the camera work is fantastic. In the original show it was kind of sloppy at times. Here, the camera zooms in so close to the actors faces, in some scenes, that you can actually see the spit flying out of their mouths. That's cool! Additionally, there are certain elements that won't make sense unless you watch the original, such as the oven scenes (there isn't one at all in this version, just a curtain, but the actors pretend that it's the oven door, which is kind of lame).

George Hearn, as always, is astounding in the title role, and with age he seems to have grown more comfortable with it. Patty Lupone is sexy as hell as Mrs. Lovett, and Neil Patrick Harris pulls off a surprisingly convincing performance as Tobias Ragg. Timothy Nolen is of course fabulously perverted and disgusting in his role as Judge Turpen. To tell you the truth, I can't think of a single performer in this production that I didn't like, but I'm running out of room.

Another bonus, this performance contains Judge Turpan's solo, which was cut from the original show when it was performed for television. The original version with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury is available now on DVD, as well. Get them both, and then sit back and enjoy the ride.

Rating:
Summary: I was there too! Magnificent.
Review: My wife and I attended this taping in San Francisco, and it was magnificent. The treasure here for me was the performance of Lisa Vroman as Johanna. Ms. Vroman performed as Christine in our Phantom of the Opera and sings Johanna better than I have have ever heard it before. Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie) gives a surprisingly good performance, and Patti LuPone is actually tolerable here. No sets, minimal costumes (in fact, if I had any criticisim of this concert, I felt a bit more imagination could have gone into making it a "staged" concert) but the cast and the musicians do tremendous justice to this Sondheim masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic edition, better than the '82 version
Review: Sweeney Todd is a fantastic musical and this DVD truly lives up to the quality of the show itself. Bear with me as this is probably more of a comparison to the 1982 video than many would like. To begin, of the two, the acting and singing in the Concert is superior. Granted Angela Lansbury isn't to be topped, however LuPone's Lovett is a nicely different interpretation offering more sensuality to the role. I had the good fortune of listening to the New York Philharmonic recording first, and LuPone was extremely grating on that recording, but by the time the Concert was performed in San Fransisco, she toned down a little, providing a much better performance. Overall, I enjoy LuPone's performance on the DVD. She is a true comediene--perhaps my favorite moment is right after Sweeney's Epiphany, a great transition into the lighter feel of A Little Priest. George Hearn is still fantastic after 20 years, there's nothing else to be said. Lisa Vroman is also good as Johanna. A lot of people have complaints, but I seem to have forgotten her lackluster acting, because I tend to be pretty hypercritical. In fact, my main memory from the DVD is the nuance in Vroman's singing during "Green Finch..." which i don't hear in the original cast, but now can't imagine an actress not picking up on it--it concerns the lines "Are you crowing, Are you screaming?". Also, she is 27 times better than the girl on the 1982 tour with Hearn and Lansbury. Even if you don't like Vroman, I can't see how you would like the other girl better. Davis Gaines is great, even if he looks pretty old to be Anthony. Nolan makes a great Judge Thurpin and is perfectly disconcerting. Also, the costume concept is great, and the use of platforms surrounding the orchestra is a fantastic idea. As many others have observed, this concert experience far surpasses the Les Mis 10th Anniversary concert. And the only ways that the 82 production is preferable are because it has Lansbury and a massive set. Otherwise, even if you could get the 82 production on DVD, I would suggest this DVD as a first buy. And since the '82 version isn't available, what are you waiting for? buy it immediately!

Rating:
Summary: George Hearn does a bloody good job 2. time around!!
Review: This is a very well staged Concert production of Sondheims Sweeney Todd and really proves that music and characters are so strong that no opulent scenery or costumes are needed.
Gerorge Hearn reprises the role as Sweeney and is once again brilliant and Patti luPone are great as Mrs. lowett... but.. She isn't Angela Lansbury and this dvd-version will have great competition when the Hearn/Lansbury DVD of Sweeney Todd is released. But why not have both.. ?? *SS*

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Brilliant
Review: This recording was my first exposure to the masterpiece that is "Sweeney Todd," and I was absolutely blown away. First off, you have that score, that glorious Sondheim score. Almost entirely sung through, "Sweeney" is one of the few musicals where I wouldn't remove a single song, and the operatic voices in this concert coupled with the huge orchestra highlight Sondheim's brilliance perfectly. The group numbers are especially effective, and the six-part harmony in the Act II opener "God, That's Good" will make your eyes bug out.

And the actors!!! They are all amazingly talented, have divine voices, and have an incredible grasp on the complex characters. Twenty years after replacing Len Cariou on Broadway, George Hearn proves he still has what it takes to make an amazing Sweeney. If anything, the added years have made his performance even stronger than it was on the '82 video recording, and his voice hasn't weakened one bit.

Another real find is Neil Patrick Harris (who knew the ex-Dougie Houser was a tenor?), who earned Sondheim's seal of approval as "the definitive Tobias." Watching this performance will prove the platitude is not wasted. Harris is instantly charming from the moment he takes stage, and the Act II ballad "Not While I'm Around" will break your heart. He sings it with such emotion and a crystal-clear tenor voice that your heart will immediately go out to him, and the song is one of the highlights of this uniformly excellent DVD.

However, for me "Sweeney Todd" has and will always be about Mrs. Lovett, and Patti LuPone's performance delivers in spades. Now, don't get me wrong, Angela Lansbury's performance in the original cast is irreplaceable, but LuPone comes in a very close second. The vocal pyrotechnics she brings to the role outshine almost all of the cast, and she belts out her songs with a feiry gutso that is utterly captivating. She knocks her two big solos ("The Worst Pies in London" and "By the Sea") out of the park, and along with Hearn is so utterly charming and entertaining you can't help but rooting for the murdering, revenge-seeking duo. Granted, Mrs. LuPone lacks a bit of the subtlety Lansbury brought to the role, but at the same time Mrs. Lovett is so much larger than life it hardly matters.

To make a long story short, BUY THIS DISC. Overall, this is my preferred recording of Sondheim's operatic masterpiece, although the '82 version is also essential due the presence of Angela Lansbury. Musical theatre fans better start saving, because now there are two essential versions of "Sweeney" to own.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the '82 version
Review: This recording was my first exposure to the masterpiece that is "Sweeney Todd," and I was absolutely blown away. First off, you have that score, that glorious Sondheim score. Almost entirely sung through, "Sweeney" is one of the few musicals where I wouldn't remove a single song, and the operatic voices in this concert coupled with the huge orchestra highlight Sondheim's brilliance perfectly. The group numbers are especially effective, and the six-part harmony in the Act II opener "God, That's Good" will make your eyes bug out.

And the actors!!! They are all amazingly talented, have divine voices, and have an incredible grasp on the complex characters. Twenty years after replacing Len Cariou on Broadway, George Hearn proves he still has what it takes to make an amazing Sweeney. If anything, the added years have made his performance even stronger than it was on the '82 video recording, and his voice hasn't weakened one bit.

Another real find is Neil Patrick Harris (who knew the ex-Dougie Houser was a tenor?), who earned Sondheim's seal of approval as "the definitive Tobias." Watching this performance will prove the platitude is not wasted. Harris is instantly charming from the moment he takes stage, and the Act II ballad "Not While I'm Around" will break your heart. He sings it with such emotion and a crystal-clear tenor voice that your heart will immediately go out to him, and the song is one of the highlights of this uniformly excellent DVD.

However, for me "Sweeney Todd" has and will always be about Mrs. Lovett, and Patti LuPone's performance delivers in spades. Now, don't get me wrong, Angela Lansbury's performance in the original cast is irreplaceable, but LuPone comes in a very close second. The vocal pyrotechnics she brings to the role outshine almost all of the cast, and she belts out her songs with a feiry gutso that is utterly captivating. She knocks her two big solos ("The Worst Pies in London" and "By the Sea") out of the park, and along with Hearn is so utterly charming and entertaining you can't help but rooting for the murdering, revenge-seeking duo. Granted, Mrs. LuPone lacks a bit of the subtlety Lansbury brought to the role, but at the same time Mrs. Lovett is so much larger than life it hardly matters.

To make a long story short, BUY THIS DISC. Overall, this is my preferred recording of Sondheim's operatic masterpiece, although the '82 version is also essential due the presence of Angela Lansbury. Musical theatre fans better start saving, because now there are two essential versions of "Sweeney" to own.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Brilliant
Review: This recording was my first exposure to the masterpiece that is "Sweeney Todd," and I was absolutely blown away. First off, you have that score, that glorious Sondheim score. Almost entirely sung through, "Sweeney" is one of the few musicals where I wouldn't remove a single song, and the operatic voices in this concert coupled with the huge orchestra highlight Sondheim's brilliance perfectly. The group numbers are especially effective, and the six-part harmony in the Act II opener "God, That's Good" will make your eyes bug out.

And the actors!!! They are all amazingly talented, have divine voices, and have an incredible grasp on the complex characters. Twenty years after replacing Len Cariou on Broadway, George Hearn proves he still has what it takes to make an amazing Sweeney. If anything, the added years have made his performance even stronger than it was on the '82 video recording, and his voice hasn't weakened one bit.

Another real find is Neil Patrick Harris (who knew the ex-Dougie Houser was a tenor?), who earned Sondheim's seal of approval as "the definitive Tobias." Watching this performance will prove the platitude is not wasted. Harris is instantly charming from the moment he takes stage, and the Act II ballad "Not While I'm Around" will break your heart. He sings it with such emotion and a crystal-clear tenor voice that your heart will immediately go out to him, and the song is one of the highlights of this uniformly excellent DVD.

However, for me "Sweeney Todd" has and will always be about Mrs. Lovett, and Patti LuPone's performance delivers in spades. Now, don't get me wrong, Angela Lansbury's performance in the original cast is irreplaceable, but LuPone comes in a very close second. The vocal pyrotechnics she brings to the role outshine almost all of the cast, and she belts out her songs with a feiry gutso that is utterly captivating. She knocks her two big solos ("The Worst Pies in London" and "By the Sea") out of the park, and along with Hearn is so utterly charming and entertaining you can't help but rooting for the murdering, revenge-seeking duo. Granted, Mrs. LuPone lacks a bit of the subtlety Lansbury brought to the role, but at the same time Mrs. Lovett is so much larger than life it hardly matters.

To make a long story short, BUY THIS DISC. Overall, this is my preferred recording of Sondheim's operatic masterpiece, although the '82 version is also essential due the presence of Angela Lansbury. Musical theatre fans better start saving, because now there are two essential versions of "Sweeney" to own.