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So Sweeney Todd (the Sondheim stage musical, not the forthcoming Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movie) is playing at the Palace through Sunday.
My wife & I are Broadway Series subscribers and checked it out last night. It was the first time I've seen the show, though I was familiar with the story. Judging from audience reactions, it seems like it's very much a love it or hate it kind of thing -- there were a LOT of folks who left at intermission, and some people who took off even before that. I think there were a number of people who weren't really aware of the subject matter... so that was probably a part of it. But at the same time, there were some really vocal fans of the show, and loud cheering/celebration when it was over. I talked to a number of people who said it was their favorite musical even...
The staging was a different setup than most, with the entire cast onstage all at once, and the cast members (10 total) also were the orchestra! While not directly "in the action" they'd be off to the side of the set with their instrument playing - including tuba, woodwinds, trumpet, keyboards, percussion, and all the major strings. Heck, for some songs the string players were still playing WHILE being center-stage singing their parts. It was kind of an interesting way to do things, and you've got to figure it makes casting the roles a lot harder - we need someone who can sing, act, AND play the clarinet and flute for this role. How do you measure up?
Since it was my first time seeing the show -- I really liked the story, it's an interesting revenge tale, with a kind of sterotypical twist thrown in, but still, it made for a good musical story. The music, however, was very discordant, almost psychotic at times. I have to assume that's intentional, as it fits the STORY very well, but it did make it kind of uncomfortable to listen to... not something you really leave the theater singing along to by any means.
Anyone else already seen it or planning to check it out?
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