Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber
of Fleet Street (Broadway)
(Keepcase) starring Angela
Lansbury, George Hearn
Simply, Superb !
Stephen Sondheims Victorian horror thriller Sweeney Todd: The Demon
Barber of Fleet Street is generally considered his greatest work, macabre
but darkly humorous with a viscerally powerful score that has found a
home both on Broadway and in opera houses. George He arn (who
replaced Len Cariou of the original Broadway cast) plays the title
character, a wronged man whose lust for revenge drives him to murder (an
18th-century legend who has been traced to a real-life barber), and Angela
Lansbury plays his partner in crime, Mrs. Lovett, who finds a practical
business use for Todds victims. This combination of horror and humor is
echoed in Sondheims score: brooding menace (The Ballad of Sweeney
Todd, My Friend), achingly beautiful ballads (Johanna, Not While Im
Around), clever puns (A Little Priest), coloratura arias (Green Finch and
Linnet Bird), and intricate choral and ensemble numbers. Continuing a
fortuitous tradition of capturing the Sondheim legacy on video recordings,
this performance was filmed before a live audience in Los Angeles during
the 1982 national tour. Almost 20 years later, Hearn returned to the role
opposite Patti LuPone in an acclaimed concert production. But Sweeney
Todd is an especially compelling experience in this 1982 version, complete
with the clever staging tricks (e.g., the barbers chair) and as close to the
original cast as were likely to see. --David Horiuchi
It is a great privilege to be able to view this original incarnation of
Sondheims Sweeney Todd (imagine if we were able to see the original
productions of a Mozart opera?) This performance of a stage production
with audience present is excellent - certainly demonstrating Angela
Lansburys wonderful abilities as a singing actress.
Sweeney Todd is one of the great master pieces of musical theatre blurring
the genres of the musical and opera. Those who find musicals shallow
should enjoy this as it has a little more bite. Fans of opera should also
relish this as in it complex musical structures it resembles an opera.
Sweeney Todd is bursting with melody, rhythmic variety, clever lyrics,
interesting characters, and is quite unlike just about every other musical
theatre production in its macabre storyline.
Its fascinating to compare this to the recent Tim Burton film Sweeney Todd
- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Both are excellent in their own way
but are completely different. This is very much a filmed stage production
whereas Burton converts it into a real film. Sadly Burton resorts to
unnecessary graphic violence which throws the film off-balance whereas
the stage production is more suggestive and consistent with the tragi -
comic tone of the work.
The quality of the sound and picture is excellent. Sadly there are no extra
on the DVD.
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Broadway) (Keepcase) starring
Angela Lansbury, George Hearn - 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price!