Newer PostOlder PostS U N D AY, F E B R U A RY 0 5 , 2 0 0 6Surfing Through "Sweeney Todd"Just saw the new Broadway production of Sweeney Todd starringMichael Cerveris and Patti Lupone.</p><p> Terrific show -- one of Sondheim'sbest of course.</p><p> And this take on it -- set ostensibly in a madhouse andwith the smallish cast doubling up on instruments -- was beautifullyfocused and well-directed.</p><p> Every movement had a purpose, everyperformance was on the same page...and what delicious pies.</p><p> Hard toimagine people complaining that Sondheim doesn't write "tunes," whatwith songs like "Not While I'm Around," "Pretty Women," "Johanna"and the show-specific numbers like "The Worst Pies in London," "ByThe Sea" (Lupone's highlight) and "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd."Cerveris and Lupone were great of course -- terrific chemistry, verydroll and always in service to the show.</p><p> The find for me was ManoelFelciano as Tobias.</p><p> He was wonderfully good as the narrator/Toby,giving a dangerous gleam to "Not While I'm Around" and generallybeing in tune with everything going on stage around him without beingdistracting or busy or calling attention to himself.</p><p> But every time youdid look at him -- even if he was just playing an instrument -- you knewexactly what he was thinking and feeling.</p><p> I saw him after the showlugging some suitcases and calling a cab but he had a distracted,unapproachable air so I didn't say, 'Great show.' But he's performingsolo tomorrow and next Monday and I don't want to miss that.</p><p> A realtalent.POSTED BY MICHAEL IN NEW YORK AT 10:23 PM 1 C O M M E N T S :Anonymous said...I can't imagine anyone but Angela Lansbury in that.3:23 PM Post a CommentL I N K S T O T H I S P O S TCreate a LinkHomeNext Blog»sal1mineo@hotmail.comSEARCH BLOG FLAG BLOGFOLLOW BLOGP O P S U R F I N G .</p><p> C O MS U R F I N G T H E WAV E S O F P O P U L A R C U LT U R EB Y M I C H A E L G I LT Z & F R I E N D SPOPSURFING.COM: Surfing Through "Sweeney Todd"http://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2006/02/surfing-through-sweene... 1 of 37/29/09 3:28 AMFAV O R I T E L I N K SAmericablogFive O'Clock Lightning baseball blogDeep Pop -- Lori Lakin's BlogThe Back Page -- Jason Page on ESPNRadioCine-Blog -- George Robinson's BlogDocuments On Art & Cinema - DarylChin's BlogBrucie G's Wondrous Blog OfAdventure and Mystery -- BruceGreenspan's BlogB L O G A R C H I V E▼ 2009 (17)▼ July (3)1939 -- The Greatest Year ForMoviesSwimming Bans Those Hi-TechSuits!Best Movies Of The Year -- TheMaster List► June (3)► May (1)► March (2)► February (1)► January (7)► 2008 (86)► 2007 (781)► 2006 (2412)► 2005 (5)C O N T R I B U TO R SBiboyMichael in New YorkAaron POPSURFING.COM: Surfing Through "Sweeney Todd"http://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2006/02/surfing-through-sweene... 2 of 37/29/09 3:28 AMPOPSURFING.COM: Surfing Through "Sweeney Todd"http://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2006/02/surfing-through-sweene... 3 of 37/29/09 3:28 AM
