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re: The last great musical to open on Broadway

Posted by: AlanScott 05:42 pm EDT 03/13/14
In reply to: re: The last great musical to open on Broadway - JayBee 11:45 am EDT 03/13/14

Even if you feel the original production was misguided, if you think the piece is terrific, might it not count as a great musical?

I'm among those who completely disagree with your assessment of the production. Loved the design, the direction and the performances, particularly those of Cariou, Lansbury, Jennings and Louise, all of whom remain unequaled in my experience of many subsequent performers in those roles.

Would I have liked it to have played in a somewhat smaller theatre? Perhaps, but I loved the overpowering design and the way the size of the set dwarfed the characters. That could not have been achieved in a smaller theatre, and I think the tradeoff was worth it for what was one of the most emotionally shattering productions I've ever seen.


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re: The last great musical to open on Broadway

Posted by: JohnPopa 03:53 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: The last great musical to open on Broadway - AlanScott 05:42 pm EDT 03/13/14

Obviously, I'm probably misremembering but I always thought you liked Loudon more than Lansbury - or was it just that you specifically enjoyed Loudon as well?


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re: The last great musical to open on Broadway

Posted by: AlanScott 06:41 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: The last great musical to open on Broadway - JohnPopa 03:53 pm EDT 03/14/14

If Loudon's entire performance had been as good as the best parts of her performance, she would have been magnificent. As it was, she was sort of all over the place: brilliant in some scenes, interestingly different from Lansbury in others, and actually not good in some places.

Probably in some past pots I've emphasized the positive.

Still, there have been lots of excellent Mrs. Lovetts. For me, as I've said so many times here that I'm sure people are tired of reading it, no one has approached Carioiu's excellence. Or Merle Louise's, for that matter.


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re: The last great musical to open on Broadway

Posted by: Chazwaza 06:19 pm EDT 03/13/14
In reply to: re: The last great musical to open on Broadway - AlanScott 05:42 pm EDT 03/13/14

I think Sweeney Todd is one of those shows that is NOT, by it's nature, intimate, but still somehow manages to be intimate within a large scale or overwhelming set. The show is written big, with big emotions and music, and broad characters. But then it still becomes personal and intimate. However sacrificing one to beef up the other is not, to me, the right idea. I think it works well either way, and of course works well in a smaller theater/set/staging concept... but I think the optimal version of it doesn't short change either side of the show. (and from what I've seen and can tell, I think Prince's production achieved that)


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