Sweeney Todd Tour: Still Razor Sharp

I enjoyed director John Doyle's recent Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd immensely (read my review here), so I was eager to see how the show would fare without Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone in the central roles when the national tour showed up at Boston's Colonial Theater.

In general, the tour performances weren't quite as sharp as those in the original production, but the cast members were nonetheless eminently effective and stirring. Doyle's actor/musician concept is still compelling, but it's somewhat less remarkable upon second viewing. I'm not sure if this was because I knew what to expect, or because it was easier to notice that sometimes the presentation represented style over substance. (I'm still not entirely sure what the little white casket is meant to represent. Hope?) Still, overall I found the production a thoroughly entertaining re-imagining of Stephen Sondheim's master work.

The tour stars the formidable Judy Kaye, Tony Award winner for The Phantom of the Opera, as Mrs. Lovett. Kaye was not quite as edgy as Lupone was, and not nearly as funny, but she eventually warmed up and really made the role her own, especially in "A Little Priest." Kaye's a total pro, and ultimately she gives the Lovett role a heartier and brighter spin than Lupone did.

The tour's other star, David Hess, was out for the performance I saw, so understudy David Garry donned the leather strop and chased-silver blades. Garry brought a certain smoldering sensuality to the part: he's a big burly bear of a man, and certainly the sexiest Sweeney I've seen. Now, Michael Cerveris is a hot guy, to be sure, but his interpretation of Sweeney was so grim and humorless that it was really hard to think of him as hot (unless that's the sort of thing you go in for). Garry put much more of a jovial spin on the role, albeit with a sinister subtext. The only indication that Garry was an understudy came during "A Little Priest" when he came in slightly late on one lyric and had to back-phrase to catch up. Hardly noticeable, unless you had the score memorized.

The rest of the cast comprised a healthy complement of veterans from the recent Broadway production, including Lauren Molina as Johanna, and she was just as sprightly and fresh as she was in New York. Benjamin Magnuson also repeats his role as Anthony, retaining his quirky, exuberant interpretation, although he did seem to be forcing the humor this time around. One refreshing newcomer was Edmund Bagnell as Toby, who was very different from Manoel Felciano in the role, yet each portrayal was compelling in its own way. Bagnell's Toby was far more playful and less dysfunctional: more barking mad than broodingly schizoid.

The Boston stop of the Sweeney tour ends Sunday, November 4th, but the show then goes on to numerous dates throughout the country. It's well worth checking out, especially if you weren't able to catch the show in New York. John Doyle's version breathes welcome new life into Sweeney Todd, which is without question a modern masterpiece.

Comments

[SarahB]

I was wondering if you'd be able to catch it since it's in your hood. I loved every minute of seeing it in the Colonial. I had to laugh at your statement "somewhat less remarkable upon second viewing" - ha, seeing the tour put my times at # 23 of seeing this Doyle production. I'm sorry you missed David Hess because the best of the newcomers - except, of course, Judy...but since I saw her during Patti's absense, I kind of don't think of her as new.

[Mel]

I saw the Saturday matinee, also with David Garry as Sweeney. I thought Judy Kaye and Edmund Bagnell really owned the show. They're the ones who made the tour feel significantly different than the LuPone-Cerveris production. Both amazing, and both great interpretations of the text. Kaye got different laughs than LuPone, but not fewer (perhaps because LuPone is a better Tuba player). Bagnell's Toby was so fresh and unique it was like seeing Sweeney Todd for the first time.

[JasonS]

The white casket? I thought it represented Joanna as a baby, who Todd believed to be forever lost to him. Watch how he cradles it.