Stephen Sondheim

[peyjenk]

I just have to say that Sondheim is my all-time favorite. The man is a genre unto himself. I've been listening to Assassins recently, and I'm surprised all over again by how amazing it is (except for the foul language ). I'm also a big fan of Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods, but my absolute favorite is Sunday in the Park with George. His lyrics, his music, his characters are all so intricate, and there isn't a wasted moment anywhere.

What do you guys think?

 

[travellingpat]

I was in a production of Into the Woods recently and i was jacks cow...i love his shows

 

[Winslow Leach]

Assassins is a really good show. I'm very interested to see how Tim Burton and Johnny Depp will handle Sweeney Todd.

 

[peyjenk]

Yeah, me too. I can;t wait to see Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett. After seeing her as Bellatrix in HP, I don't think she can do anything wrong.

 

[SarahOnBway]

Ah, Sondheim. God's gift to Musical Theater.

No, I agree, he rocks. I love all of his shows and the recent revival of Company was absolutely amazing. If you haven't heard this show yet, I really recommend it, especially getting the revival recording. The cast performs all the instruments as well (just like the recent Sweeney revival, which was directed by the same man, John Doyle) and Raul Esparza is absolutely brilliant as Bobby. They filmed the show about a week before it closed and it's going to air on PBS sometime in February, so look out for it!

Regarding the Sweeney movie... I for one am very hesitant. It takes a LOT to pull off the characters in that movie, particularly Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett. And not that I doubt Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter's acting talents--which I definitely don't--I do question their singing talent. This isn't Grease, Sweeney is pretty much an opera and it takes some major singing chops to pull off these parts. I've been disappointed before with this same sort of thing--Gerard Butler may have been perfect for 300 but he was not, is not and never will be perfect as the Phantom! HOW can you cast someone with NO VOCAL TRAINING as someone who's supposed to be THE GREATEST SINGER IN THE WORLD? Sorry, my issues.

So anyway, I've just got to wait and see. I'm sure Johnny Depp will play it well, but, I mean, he wasn't even allowed to really sing in Crybaby, right? Personally, my favorite Sweeney cast is the concert cast, which you can find on DVD George Hearn is BRILLIANT as Sweeney--he's both menacing but you find the lovable side to him as well; Patti LuPone IS Mrs. Lovett as far as I'm concerned and Neil Patrick Harris played Toby to a tee. If you're a Sweeney fan, I would HIGHLY recommend you run out and buy this if you don't already own it! (Boy, did that sound like an amazon.com review or what? )

 

[peyjenk]

I agree with what you say about the ST movie... and TOTALLY agree with you about Gerard Butler. Phantom would have been okay if it wasn't for him (he doesn't ever sing- all he does is yell through the whole movie).

Anyway, I have heard nothing but good things about the Company revival, and am psyched to hear that it is going to be on PBS. I don't ever get to experience the actual Broadway shows, but through cast recordings and videos/DVDs, I still get to enjoy them.

Does anyone know if the Sunday in the Park revival is still in the works?

 

[Winslow Leach]

It's funny about the Phantom movie. It had been talked about for years, and everyone from Michael Crawford (I think there was even an online petition to get him to reprise his stage role in the film) to John Travolta to Antonio Banderas were considered for the Phantom. Crawford was ultimately rejected for being "too old," and the producers surprisingly settled on a complete unknown--Butler--to play the famous role. I would be VERY interested to find out how such a crucial part in a high-profile film went to an unknown who couldn't sing.

Anyway, Sunday in the Park with George is supposed to start previews on January 18, at Studio 54, with an opening on February 21. Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell, who were in the recent London production, and who both won Olivier Awards for their performances, will head the cast.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Never heard of it but it sounds cool.

 

[peyjenk]

Never heard of it but it sounds cool.

Never heard of what?

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Um, er... Heh! I forget at this point.