There is nothing in the tale that rests upon Benjamin Barker being hideous in appearance, but more to the contrary. No doubt his looks would be somewhat ravaged by long imprisonment, but he had to have a strong constitution to survive that hardship. Even a talented barber needed to be personable to succeed in his profession. He found himself an exceptionally lovely wife though not a wealthy man. He became a monster but one doesn't need to look like a monster to be truly frightening. It is true that he seems more jolly than he does menacing.
Kudos for ending on the dissonant chord (as opposed to the dreadful "applause" ending on the B-flat chord, ruining an otherwise perfect composition), even though the audience applauded over it.
Excellent! Thanks so much for sharing this. This show is such a profoundly great work of art on paper to begin with, and then after being immortalized by Cariou / Hearn and Lansbury it carries enough weight to make any performer quake before attempting it and any audience pause before giving them an opportunity. But there are more richly talented actors and singers than any one of us will ever hear of, and this pair bring Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett to life beautifully. Thanks again.
Thank you for your kind words! We got to team up again in 2015 in Hawaii and it was one of the highlights of my performing life. It’s one of the most thrilling pieces to do (and hilarious to rehearse). Coincidentally I am rehearsing Priest for a concert this week.
@@peterkendallclarkbar Oh, my! I actually posted my comment without even noticing that I was addressing Sweeney himself, so this is a wonderful surprise! Thank you for taking the time to reply so nicely. All the very best to you, on stage and off, always, and perhaps I’ll have the pleasure of being in your audience one day. If my comment suggested that I’m a fellow performer, I should correct that. I’m not; my empathy for you owes entirely to what you did here, and to my passion for Sondheim. I can’t imagine stepping into such a role, but I suppose part of the process is somehow getting past the baggage. Well… thanks again. I’ll be watching for you.
@@GrantTarredus I’m still touched that you took the time to say that! Every chance we get to perform a role like this is a gift. I hope it comes my way again!
He has a voice. Sondheim's music deserves a talented voice. It is not within the scope of amateurs who cannot do it justice. I would bet this performance sounded much better live than it does as a recording.
@@whitneyryangarrity5265 Neither, the origin is irrelevant to the way the word is used today: someone without professional experience, a dedicated hobbyist.
@@whitneyryangarrity5265 And? That's not necessarily what was relevant about the original comment, you typically use these words as opposite of one another, it's just common usage.
"Have you any Dean?" Is that an inside joke between the performers or something? Every other version has the line "Anything that's lean?" or something along those lines.
Yes, but I wasn’t even in on the joke! Our director Dean Anthony told me to sing that line and I didn’t question it at the time. The next time I did the role, however, also with the same Lovett, I sang it Have You Any Dean, and the conductor questioned me. It was then that she told me that was just Dean’s little joke cause he wanted to be in the show. No one has ever mentioned it!
Our director made that little cut in the duet as the executioner interchange feels like a speed bump at the end of a long scene and slows the momentum that has been building. I’ve done it both ways and think that cut tightens things up.
@@peterkendallclarkbar it's one of my personal favourite lines of the song. Mrs lovett straight up telling Sweeny he should murder people rather than hinting at it just peppers my shepard you know?
I’m not sure how to process a Sweeney that’s this attractive.
Now you know how Mrs. Lovett feels
I had a different wig for the previews, and the Sweeney understudy said “I don’t understand why Sweeney looks like a sexy pirate.”
@@peterkendallclarkbar That's the funniest thing I've ever heard in my life, holy crap
There is nothing in the tale that rests upon Benjamin Barker being hideous in appearance, but more to the contrary. No doubt his looks would be somewhat ravaged by long imprisonment, but he had to have a strong constitution to survive that hardship. Even a talented barber needed to be personable to succeed in his profession. He found himself an exceptionally lovely wife though not a wealthy man. He became a monster but one doesn't need to look like a monster to be truly frightening. It is true that he seems more jolly than he does menacing.
Kudos for ending on the dissonant chord (as opposed to the dreadful "applause" ending on the B-flat chord, ruining an otherwise perfect composition), even though the audience applauded over it.
Excellent! Thanks so much for sharing this. This show is such a profoundly great work of art on paper to begin with, and then after being immortalized by Cariou / Hearn and Lansbury it carries enough weight to make any performer quake before attempting it and any audience pause before giving them an opportunity. But there are more richly talented actors and singers than any one of us will ever hear of, and this pair bring Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett to life beautifully.
Thanks again.
Thank you for your kind words! We got to team up again in 2015 in Hawaii and it was one of the highlights of my performing life. It’s one of the most thrilling pieces to do (and hilarious to rehearse). Coincidentally I am rehearsing Priest for a concert this week.
@@peterkendallclarkbar Oh, my! I actually posted my comment without even noticing that I was addressing Sweeney himself, so this is a wonderful surprise! Thank you for taking the time to reply so nicely. All the very best to you, on stage and off, always, and perhaps I’ll have the pleasure of being in your audience one day.
If my comment suggested that I’m a fellow performer, I should correct that. I’m not; my empathy for you owes entirely to what you did here, and to my passion for Sondheim. I can’t imagine stepping into such a role, but I suppose part of the process is somehow getting past the baggage.
Well… thanks again. I’ll be watching for you.
@@GrantTarredus I’m still touched that you took the time to say that! Every chance we get to perform a role like this is a gift. I hope it comes my way again!
Gorgeous singing, and the costumes are incredible!
This is one of the most entertaining versions of this song I’ve seen
That’s very kind of you to say! One of my favorite productions I ever got to do!
I will be Mrs Lovett and hopefully giving justice to all the discords in the score ! We shall see !!
Hope you did well.
He has a voice. Sondheim's music deserves a talented voice. It is not within the scope of amateurs who cannot do it justice. I would bet this performance sounded much better live than it does as a recording.
@@whitneyryangarrity5265 Neither, the origin is irrelevant to the way the word is used today: someone without professional experience, a dedicated hobbyist.
@@whitneyryangarrity5265 And? That's not necessarily what was relevant about the original comment, you typically use these words as opposite of one another, it's just common usage.
Obviously this dude SOUNDS amazing...the acting choices are baffling me a little bit.
Thank you! Don’t worry, my acting baffles everyone!
@@peterkendallclarkbar Do you, man!
Peter sounds great! Great Todd
Thank you! Wish we could all do it again!
"Have you any Dean?"
Is that an inside joke between the performers or something? Every other version has the line "Anything that's lean?" or something along those lines.
Yes, but I wasn’t even in on the joke! Our director Dean Anthony told me to sing that line and I didn’t question it at the time. The next time I did the role, however, also with the same Lovett, I sang it Have You Any Dean, and the conductor questioned me. It was then that she told me that was just Dean’s little joke cause he wanted to be in the show. No one has ever mentioned it!
These Two Are Insanely Good Sorry For The Pun
Where’s the pun
What happened to the line about the executioner?
Our director made that little cut in the duet as the executioner interchange feels like a speed bump at the end of a long scene and slows the momentum that has been building. I’ve done it both ways and think that cut tightens things up.
@@peterkendallclarkbar it's one of my personal favourite lines of the song. Mrs lovett straight up telling Sweeny he should murder people rather than hinting at it just peppers my shepard you know?
Looks like Jason Mamoa
Is that good?
Nope, nope, nope Johnny Depp and Helena are much better