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Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: garyd 12:04 pm EDT 09/13/15

Anyone see it last night? We did and were disappointed. Would like to hear thoughts from others.


re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: adammueller308 06:01 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: Sweeney Todd SFO - garyd 12:04 pm EDT 09/13/15

I have to agree. I saw it and thought it was a complete waste of my time and money. The mics were a true problem - but it was a problem that only, pardon the pun here, amplified the miscasting of far too many roles. The director, Lee Blakeley, is famed as much for his foul and vile temper as his overly pretentious productions - and this 'Sweeney' is par for the course. I'd say buy your meat pies elsewhere in the Bay area because the ones being served up at the SFO are a moldy and sad lot.


re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: garyd 06:54 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - adammueller308 06:01 pm EDT 09/13/15

Yes, the sound was certainly a problem. However from the curtain rise the whole thing just seemed to lumber in and lay there.
The Turpin flagellation scene was almost comical. (and since when was the Judge so buff?) Nellie did not have to be thrown into the oven, she seemingly walked right in as though she was entering a nice soothing sauna. (by that point I was almost ready to follow her)
I guess you know things are not going well when the actor playing Toby steals the show. And finally, if the "beggar woman" mumbled one more line or lyric, I would have slit her throat myself. OH, and the whistle. It sounded more like an amplified land line telephone ring.


re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: adammueller308 09:47 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - garyd 06:54 pm EDT 09/13/15

TOTALLY AGREE with everything you said - and then some. This 'production' moved at a glacial pace and I would personally like to flog the director Lee Blakeley for this bloated waste of my time and money. And yes: since when does Lovett stroll into the oven as if boarding a luxury liner? I could go on - and may in more posts - but to anyone buying a ticket well you'll 'enter at your own peril' - and/or waste of your time and money.


SFO did such a fine job with Show Boat last year...

Posted by: garyd 11:09 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - adammueller308 09:47 pm EDT 09/13/15

of course a different director…Francesca Zambello

Link http://sfopera.com/Profile-Bios/Production/Francesca-Zambello.aspx

re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: Richard Connema 10:06 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - adammueller308 09:47 pm EDT 09/13/15

Glad it's not my list to see. I have too many great productions of this Sondheim' masterpiece including a terrific one up at the Portland Opera Company some years back with Karen Morrow.


re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: rpschnei 05:23 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: Sweeney Todd SFO - garyd 12:04 pm EDT 09/13/15

I'm going Tuesday night so can't add anything yet, but the SF Chronicle review has been posted online. It was written by their music critic, not their theatre critic. He loved most of the performers but found the sound system horrific, with screeching, static, imbalance, etc. Hope they fix it by Tuesday.

Amelie review is also online and it's a rave with the little man jumping out of his chair.

Link Chronicle Review

re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: Richard Connema 10:08 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - rpschnei 05:23 pm EDT 09/13/15

My review will be up this week on "Amelie". I love the production


re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: TourBoi 05:47 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - rpschnei 05:23 pm EDT 09/13/15

Sound system? They have mics at the opera?


re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: garyd 06:41 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - TourBoi 05:47 pm EDT 09/13/15

Yes, especially, or perhaps only, for musicals. The dialogue is miked and then turned off or down for the singing. This apparently was the cause of some of the horrific sound problems Sat. night.


re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: Richard Connema 10:08 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - garyd 06:41 pm EDT 09/13/15

Yes they used mikes for "Showboat" last year.


re: Sweeney Todd SFO

Posted by: garyd 11:03 pm EDT 09/13/15
In reply to: re: Sweeney Todd SFO - Richard Connema 10:08 pm EDT 09/13/15

There is an interesting article/review that was published when this version appeared in Houston. It, toward the end, speaks to the use of miss.

Link http://www.operawarhorses.com/2015/04/25/sondheim-at-the-opera-house-nathan-gunn-director-lee-blakeley-make-a-compelling-case-for-sweeney-todd-houston-grand-opera-april-24-2015/


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