Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd was one of the worst large production shows that I have ever seen. It was depressing and BORING! The stage setup and lighting were poor and barely changed throughout the entire production.
Sorry I saw it. Glad I didn’t pay for it.

I saw Sweeney Todd last night and I was completely amazed. I had some expecations from seeing the film, but it was completelly different. Obviously you have much more room to elaborate in film with acting, special effects, big budget, etc. This production was very minimalistic, which I thought was a perfect way to showcase the music and the story. It takes place on one set that doesn’t change. There are only 7 actors who also play the music, and that’s pretty much it.
I can see how people wouldn’t appreciate the play if they only watched the movie for the burton/​depp factor. If you are expecting to see play version of a movie you will be disappointed. The beauty of this musical is truly the story and the music. I can’t even begin to tell you how beautiful I thought the lighting and stage production was. And the added bonus of seeing all the actors playing instruments was just icing on the cake for me.

I hear other people’s complaints about the show and would like to add my thoughts.
I too was a little put off by the one set play — I like seeing musicals with elaborate set changes, costumes, etc. But the play kinda grew on me as the night went on. It was different, so what.
As far as the musicians/​actors — wow they worked really hard to be on stage the entire 3 hours and perform/​play. That takes a lot of work.
The train whistle with each murder was annoying, especially towards the end.
I thought the leads were superb though.

I feel like I wasted $ 100 bucks to go see this show :(
My bf and I were excited to see Sweeney Todd, but when the show started, it just left us confused. The actors are the musicians as well, so they are limited in movement. That in itself, made it difficult to understand the plot. Also, there weren’t any scene changes, so you had to really understand where they were in the lyrics of the songs.
We actually left during intermission b/​c we were so confused and disappointed.

Admittedly I’m biased since I saw this show only after seeing the SUPERB Tim Burton adaptation on film, but this production was sub-​par in my opinion.
The music and lyrics are perfect — thank Stephen Sondheim for that. The cast was generally very good, but the lead seemed to be grossly overacting to the point of distraction, as did the actor who played Tobias. My husband and I were so busy laughing at their affectations and spitting all over the stage that it detracted from the show itself.
Not having ever seen Sweeney Todd on stage before, I don’t know if this is an experimental production or if this is how it was written by Sondheim, but I was disappointed with the lack of set changes, the fact that the set was just a creepy room with a coffin that they turned around and on its side to resemble different types of furniture, and the fact that the whole cast stayed onstage and played instruments (no orchestra) the whole show. Finally, the staging each time someone was killed — ear-​shattering screeching flute, bright red floodlights, putting a white jacket stained red on the «deceased», was simply bizarre. The staging and effects simply seemed pretentious in their attempts to be different and unique and avant-​garde.
I love the story and the music, but I’d rather listen to the CD than sit through this version again.

With an odd nod to German Expressionist costumes and make-​up, this revival of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street demonstrates more that Stephen Sondheim kicks the asses of all other lyricists than it does anything else.
The music and lyrics were the hit of the show for me. Unfortunately, my eyes stink and I was just far enough away from the stage that I know I missed nuance in the characters’ faces and body language that would have added to the theatrical experience had I been closer. But the sound at the Cadillac Palace Theater is excellent, so at least the distance didn’t compromise the musical experience.
The cast of ten are also the only ten (and terrific) musicians in the show, which gave them a novel command of the performance.
My favorite character: Mrs. Lovett, who in her black miniskirt plays the tuba and looks like an almost aged but still sexy sex bomb. Tobias, the violin playing boy in the straight jacket was awesome, too.
Too much more to tell of this spooky story — just go see it.
(And, many thanks to the lovely lady who asked me to this show — you know who you are!)