Last night I watched the concert version of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, starring George Hearn and Patti Lupone. It was, as always, thrilling, scary and a marvel of brilliant music and lyrics all amazingly created by one genius: Stephen Sondheim. Curious to see how this show was received when it first opened in March 1, 1979, I checked the reviews. Clive Barns of The Post raved about the show, but, being a critic had to add his little carp which was the Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury were "playing in different styles," Bullshit. Richard Eder of The Times also gave it a rave review couched in pretentious rhetoric and such overblown words as "coruscating". Walter Kerr of the Times had the most irritating rave. Seems the poor old critic was puzzled as to why the creators of Sweeney Todd went to all that trouble, causing him to ask that most irritating of unnecessary questions, "What is this musical about." Poor Walter, he needed a message. He couldn't just enjoy an exciting tale and sure to be classic lyrics and music. No. He needed to go home with a message. Sadly so many people who consider themselves theater mavens suffer the same kind of "I need a message" delusion. Only Douglas Watt of The Daily News had the intelligence to give Sweeney Todd an unqualified and enthusiastic rave and, further, cite the sublime merits of the individual songs. Now I am sure someone like Walter Kerr will ask why did I write this blog? What's it about? Nothing. I just felt like it.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Bloody good show.
Last night I watched the concert version of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, starring George Hearn and Patti Lupone. It was, as always, thrilling, scary and a marvel of brilliant music and lyrics all amazingly created by one genius: Stephen Sondheim. Curious to see how this show was received when it first opened in March 1, 1979, I checked the reviews. Clive Barns of The Post raved about the show, but, being a critic had to add his little carp which was the Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury were "playing in different styles," Bullshit. Richard Eder of The Times also gave it a rave review couched in pretentious rhetoric and such overblown words as "coruscating". Walter Kerr of the Times had the most irritating rave. Seems the poor old critic was puzzled as to why the creators of Sweeney Todd went to all that trouble, causing him to ask that most irritating of unnecessary questions, "What is this musical about." Poor Walter, he needed a message. He couldn't just enjoy an exciting tale and sure to be classic lyrics and music. No. He needed to go home with a message. Sadly so many people who consider themselves theater mavens suffer the same kind of "I need a message" delusion. Only Douglas Watt of The Daily News had the intelligence to give Sweeney Todd an unqualified and enthusiastic rave and, further, cite the sublime merits of the individual songs. Now I am sure someone like Walter Kerr will ask why did I write this blog? What's it about? Nothing. I just felt like it.
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