Sweeney Todd at Adelphi Theatre
Performance: Friday 18th May at 19:30
Seat: Rear left Dress Circle, £30
Cast included: Michael Ball (Sweeney Todd), Imelda Staunton (Mrs Lovett), John Bowe (Judge Turpin), Peter Polycarpou (Beadle Bamford), Robert Burt (Pirelli), James McConville (Tobias), Lucy May Barker (Johanna), Luke Brady (Anthony), Gillian Kirkpatrick (Beggar Woman)
This always reminds me of a film poster. |
Photo: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features |
Michael Ball did a great job of Sweeney. He also had a 'Sweeney voice' - his singing as the character sounded very different to the sound I have learnt to associate him with and I was very much in agreement with the choice he had made there as it suited the character.
The third special mention goes to Gillian Kirkpatrick for her portrayal of the Beggar Woman. In comparison to the film, the part of the Beggar Woman had been given much more weight in the stage version throughout.
Having just made a comparison between this stage production and the film (because you do that automatically if the film is the reason behind being acquainted with Sweeney Todd in the first place), I feel obliged to point out that they are completely different from each other and that one probably would not get very far if they went to the theatre expecting to see a replica of the film. The characterisations are totally different and obviously that famous artistic touch Tim Burton tends to add to all his work is naturally not there. You will get much more out of it if you go and treat the two as separate things.
Photo: Catherine Ashmore |
Sweeney Todd is only doing a limited run, until 22nd September 2012 so get your tickets booked!
Official website: http://sweeneytoddwestend.com/
I saw this when I visited London last month - and I agree, it was amazing! I had seen movie, but also the DVD with Angela Lansbury, so I knew to expect something not quite like the movie... But I think I liked this production better than both of the versions I'd already seen!
ReplyDeleteI did not know there was a DVD with Angela Lansbury (although I have heard her do Mrs Lovett on the soundtrack). I will keep a look-out for that now.
DeleteThis new production was just incredible. As stated, I didn't expect it to be as visually satisfying as it was and obviously the vocals were stunning.
Thanks for the review! I've only seen the movie, too, but I'd love to see the musical on stage someday, I find it's the most interesting of Sondheim's works. There's a Finnish translation by Juice Leskinen but I'm not sure if it's even been performed on stage yet, or then it was a short run in the National Opera.
ReplyDeleteYeah, definitely go and see it on stage if you get the chance.
DeleteI am rather intrigued as to how the whole musical would work in Finnish and in Finland due to the setting being so very London and obviously with the variations in the way they speak and such (then again, I thought the same thing about 'My Fair Lady' and that has been performed in Finland numerous times). I should think they'd do a production in Finland at some point.
Interesting views on the actors. I particularly liked your mention of the beggar woman, which I didn't in my review of the same production on my review blog.
ReplyDeleteI imagine the show would sound very different in Finnish if it went over there sometime. Would the whole production be done in Finnish or just the acting? It would be interesting to see!
I felt the need to mention the Beggar Woman because, after the two leads she was the one who stood out to me! Her acting was brilliant.
DeleteIn Finland theatre is generally done in Finnish so I am pretty certain both the songs and the script would be translated. They have done some great productions of famous musicals in Finland in the past so 'Sweeney Todd' would definitely be an interesting one to see there.
Hi and sorry to be so very late with my comment on this... As Laura mentioned before, there has been a Sweeney Todd production in Finnish National Opera back in 1997. It was both sung and acted in Finnish with the translation by famous Finnish rock musician Juice Leskinen. Sweeney's part was played by operatic singer Sauli Tiilikainen and Mrs Lovett by Ritva Auvinen. And I've actually seen the show! (Though I don't remember much about it as being 12 yrs old at the time... :)) As a Sondheim-lover I was sad that I didn't have the opportunity to see this Sweeney with Ball and Staunton but I'm still wishing I could somehow and someday see the version on screen. Lucky you who saw it on the stage! :)
Delete